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Super Rugby Pacific

Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson set to earn first Force caps

By Finn Morton

274 days ago

Ben Donaldson of Australia (R) celebrates with team mate Nic Whit after scoring his 1st try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Georgia at Stade de France on September 09, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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.

Our first team list for the 2024 @SuperRugby Season is here! 🔥
Feast your eyes on the starting 23-man squad selected for Round 1 against the Hurricanes at HBF Park! 🏟
Read the team list breakdown below 👇https://t.co/1dm2L9d60y @uwanews #teamlist pic.twitter.com/jSgCSbczMC
— Western Force (@westernforce) February 21, 2024

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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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 8 minutes ago

Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 10 minutes ago

Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 16 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 16 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 21 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 29 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 37 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 40 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 42 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 1 hour ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments