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Wallabies duo head west as Force name squad for 2024
By Finn Morton
After missing out on the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs this year by the barest of margins, the Western Force are looking to take that next step in 2024 after signing some marquee recruits ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Wallabies duo Nic White and Ben Donaldson have both been included in the Force’s initial 36-man squad after committing to deals out west, and they’re joined by former All Blacks prop Atu Moli who has also signed on.
Donaldson was at times a shining light for Australia during a woeful Rugby World Cup campaign, with the playmaker receiving Player of the Match honours are phenomenal tournament debut against Georgia at Stade de France.
Magical wing Harry Potter has also returned to the club following a standout stint with the Leicester Tigers. Backrower Will Harris, hooker Harry Hoopert, lock Lopeti Falfua and Australia U20s centre Henry O’Donnell have also signed on.
“If we build a good program, where players feel like they are getting better at rugby and are supported, then I know we can entice Australian players to come back home,” Cron said in a statement.
“A lot of the core team, who played high minutes this year are back again, which offers essential continuity.
“We’ve made some strategic signings of people we know will add to our team environment. Some experienced players will help with our player mentoring, as well as on-field consistency and decision-making. The coaches, and players, wanted to improve positional competition so we can train at a higher intensity while continuing to drive up training standards and expectations.”
The Western Force open their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign on Friday, 23 February, against the Hurricanes at Perth’s HBF Park.
Western Force squad for Super Rugby Pacific 2024
Siosifa Amone, Timothy Anstee, Max Burey, Oliver Callan, Oliver Cummins, Ben Donaldson, Lopeti Faifua, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Nikolai Foliaki, Charles Hancock, Will Harris, Harry Hoopert, Thomas Horton, Feleti Kaitu’u, Felix Kalapu, Bayley Kuenzle, Santiago Medrano, Atu Moli, Henry O’Donnell, Cambell Parata, Reesjan Pasiota, Marley Pearce, George Poolman, Harry Potter, Ian Prior, Jackson Pugh, Izack Rodda, Papillon Sevele, Samuel Spink, Hamish Stewart, Chase Tiatia, Carlo Tizzano, Angus Wagner, Michael Wells, Nic White, Jeremy Williams.
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Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.
I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.
Go to commentsI'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.
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