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Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson set to earn first Force caps
By Finn Morton
Wallabies halves Nic White and Ben Donaldson will both debut for the Western Force on Friday night when the Perth-based side takes on the travelling Hurricanes at HBF Park.
White and Donaldson, who both played for Australia at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, are among the five off-season recruits who will earn their first Force caps in the season-opener.
Former Maori All Blacks lock Tom Franklin, as well as Will Harris and magical wing Harry Potter, are the other three in line to represent the club for the first time in a competitive match.
Wallabies lock Izack Rodda will partner Super Rugby winner Franklin in the second row in what is another major boost for the men from the west.
Marley Peace, Tom Horton and Argentina’s Santiago Medrano make up the front row, and Michael Wells, Carlo Tizzano and Will Harris will form the loose forward trio.
Club captain Jeremy Williams is unavailable for this match due to head injury protocols so Wells and halfback Nic White will lead the side together.
Partnering White in the halves is Donaldson, with Hamish Stewart and Sam Spink linking up in the midfield outside the Wallabies pair. The outside backs are Chase Tiatia, Harry Potter and Max Burey.
Former Crusader Ben Funnell, along with Lopeti Faifua and Tiaan Tauakipulu, are also in lien to debut for the Force off the bench.
The match will be broadcast live on Stan Sport. It is scheduled to kick-off at 7:00 pm WST on Friday February 23.
Western Force to take on the Hurricanes
- Marley Pearce
- Tom Horton
- Santiago Medrano
- Thomas Franklin
- Izack Rodda
- Michael Wells
- Carlo Tizzano
- Will Harris
- Nic White
- Ben Donaldson
- Chase Tiatia
- Hamish Stewart
- Sam Spink
- Harry Potter
- Max Burey
Reserves
- Ben Funnell
- Charlie Hancock
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Lopeti Faifua
- Tim Anstee
- Ollie Callan
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
- George Poolman
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Latest Comments
THINK SO TOO!🙃
Go to commentsWho would you have played at 10 with Richie Mo'unga gone and Fergus Burke not available till late in the season ? Scott Barrett hardly played, Sam Whitelock was overseas. There were injuries amongst the replacements. The fairy story that Robertson would have won in this situation is a exactly that a fairy story. We went within a whisker of getting in the play offs late in the season, because we had Fergus Burke, Blackadder others back. Codie Taylor made a big impact when he came back from his sabbatical. Hopefully he will be the captain next year, Codie has had a great season since returning to the Crusaders and for the All Blacks.
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