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Wallabies wing Dylan Pietsch returns for Force’s crunch clash with Reds
By Finn Morton
Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch is back for the Western Force ahead of Saturday night’s Aussie derby against the Queensland Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Pietsch stood out as one of the form outside backs in Super Rugby Pacific earlier in the season, with the flyer crossing for three tries in just two matches for the Force.
But after suffering a minor knee injury, Pietsch has missed the Force’s last two matches against the Fijian Drua in Perth and the 55-33 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
In what comes as a big boost to the sixth-placed Force, Pietsch will start on the left wing, while Harry Potter and Mac Grealy round out a familiar outside backs trio.
Coach Simon Cron has only made one other change to the team’s 23 with prop Marley Pearce coming into the starting side. Pearce joins Wallaby Tom Robertson and one-Test England international Nic Dolly in the front row.
Captain Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain have been retained as the two starting locks.
In the loose forwards, Will Harris and Nick Champion de Crespigny join Super Rugby Pacific’s leading try Carlo Tizzano in the run-on side once again.
Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson will link up in the halves, while Hamish Stewart and Sio Tomkinson link up in the midfield.
On the bench, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Reed Prinsep and Reesjan Pasitoa are among the players to watch as the Force look to back up last weekend’s big win over the Drua with another positive result.
This match at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will get underway at 4:35 pm WST.
Western Force team to take on Queensland Reds
Starting XV; Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Reserves: Tom Horton, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Reed Prinsep, Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Reesjan Pasitoa
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Yeah, Richie certainly stepped up for the ABs in 2022 and 2023 and proved he could translate his skills into the test arena. You have to understand many fans checked out at that point though, only to tune back in for a directionless WC final.
Go to commentsThere’s certainly an expectation about Kailea JM, and I think you’re right about his prospects. Does feel like Hodgman has come past him though, on current form. And he’s only 31, I had it in my head he was older than that..
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