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Two key inclusions for Force as they look to snap winless start to season
By Finn Morton
Looking to snap their losing run with a win at home on Saturday evening, the Western Force have been boosted by the return of Sam Spink and Nic White from injury spells.
Nic White is back in the mix after missing the Force’s clash with Moana Pasifika with a swollen knee. The Wallaby will link up with Ben Donaldson in the halves.
Reigning Nathan Sharpe medallist Spink has also recovered from a calf injury to start at outside centre alongside playmaker Hamish Stewart in the midfield.
Sprink’s return has led to a big of a backline reshuffle with Bayley Kuenzle shifting to the right wing and Harry Potter moving to fullback.
Max Burrey and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa have both been moved back to the bench while Super Rugby-winning Crusader Ben Funnell has been called into the matchday squad.
The Western Force have had a tough season to date. After opening their season with a 30-point defeat at home to the Hurricanes, the men from the west couldn’t bounce back against Australian opposition.
Losses to the Force and Brumbies, and then that defeat to Moana Pasifika, have seen the Force anchored to the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standings.
“They’re a group of hard-working young athletes over there with a search for some identity,” former Wallaby Justin Harrison explained on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven this week.
“Simon Cron came in and talked immediately about the environment and high-performance environment, and having been over there a few times, you look at that training setup and what they’re doing in Western Australia for rugby, it’s absolutely valid what they’re trying to do.
“This last piece now is them coming through that glass ceiling that they have about winning Super Rugby consistently with an identity.
“They’re tough, they’re working hard, but we want them to get a result – we’re desperate for them to get a result.”
But they’ll be up against it in round five, with the Force taking on the high-flying Queensland Reds.
Western Force team to take on Queensland Reds
- Ryan Coxon
- Tom Horton
- Santiago Medrano
- Thomas Franklin
- Jeremy Williams (c)
- Tim Anstee
- Carlo Tizzano
- Will Harris
- Nic White
- Ben Donaldson
- Chase Tiatia
- Hamish Stewart
- Sam Spink
- Bayley Kuenzle
- Harry Potter
Reserves
- Ben Funnell
- Josh Bartlett
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Lopeti Faifua
- Reed Prinsep
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
- Max Burey
- George Poolman
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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