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Junior Wallabies phenomenon to debut for Western Force against Reds
By Finn Morton
Junior Wallabies vice-captain Ronan Leahy will debut for the Force on Saturday evening as the men from out west look to potentially jump into a playoff spot with a win over the Reds.
The Western Force have turned their season around as of late, which has included a 27-7 win over the Waratahs and a dominant 48-10 win over eighth-placed Fijian Drua.
But both of those wins were at home. The Perth-based side will head across Australia to the east coast for their next test, with the Force set to go head-to-head with the Reds in Brisbane.
In one of the upsets of the season, the Force shocked the Reds by nine points at Perth’s HBF Park the last time these two sides met. The Reds were in impressive form before that match.
But that was then and this is now.
Even if they win, they'll still need the Highlanders to beat the Drua on Sunday to remain in the top eight.
20-year-old backline utility Ronna Leahy will debut as the only change to a settled Force side this week. Leahy was named in the Team of the Tournament at the recent Rugby Championship U20 on the Sunshine Coast.
Leahy scored two tries during the Force’s two pre-season games earlier this year.
Harry Hoopert, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, captain Jeremy Williams and Wallaby Izack Rodda make up the tight five.
The backrow trio consists of tackling machines Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano and former Maori All Black Reed Prinsep.
Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson will combine in the halves once again, while veteran Kurtley Beale is another playmaking option out the back in the No. 15 jumper.
Hamish Stewart and Bayley Kuenzle are the centre pairing, while Leahy and George Poolman are the two wingers.
Western Force to take on Queensland Reds
- Harry Hoopert
- Tom Horton
- Santiago Medrano
- Jeremy Williams (c)
- Izack Rodda
- Will Harris
- Carlo Tizzano
- Reed Prinsep
- Nic White
- Ben Donaldson
- Ronan Leahy
- Hamish Stewart
- Bayley Kuenzle
- George Poolman
- Kurtley Beale
Replacements
- Feleti Kaitu’u
- Marley Pearce
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Lopeti Faifua
- Michael Wells
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
- Sam Spink
- Chase Tiatia
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Latest Comments
He has for tomorrow and incredibly brought back Curry to bench Cunningham South. For me from the squad it should have been Cunningham South in the team with Ted Hill on the bench.
Go to commentsActually it did not go directly into touch it went "backwards" from his hand (continuing forwards from the perspective of the ball) to go to ground in the in goal area and then because it was spinning went back out of in goal to go into touch. I thought that quite harsh as he could have been trying to scoop the ball upwards to be able to catch it himself which would have been legitimate - he certainly did not direct it towards touch.
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