Midfielder Reesjan Pasitoa will play a Super Rugby Pacific match for the first time in 1,007 days after being named in the Western Force’s run-on side to take on the Queensland Reds.
Pasiota will return for the Force in Saturday’s Australian derby at Perth’s HBF Park, with the former Queensland schoolboy star set to start alongside Hamish Stewart in the centres.
After missing the 2023 season with an ACL injury, which was followed by elbow and shoulder issues last year, the former Australian Schoolboys playmaker will play a Super Rugby match for the first time since Round 15, 2022.
Coach Simon Cron has made two changes, with experienced lock Sam Carter also coming into the starting side. Sio Tomkinson and Jeremy Williams have been ruled out of the match.
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Marley Pearce, Nic Doll and Tom Robertson and the three front-rowers, while Darcy Swain will link up with Carter as the locking pair. Nick Champion de Crespigny and tackle-machine Carlo Tizzano are once again the two flankers, while Reed Prinsep lines up at No. 8.
Nic White and Ben Donaldson will combine in the halves once again. Other than the midfield duo of Stewart and Pasitoa, Harry Potter, Dylan Pietsch and Mac Grealy round out the backline as the two wings and the fullback.
In the absence of Williams, former Maori All Black Prinsep and Wallaby White will co-captain the Force.
After missing last weekend’s historic win over the Brumbies – the Force’s first win over the ‘Brums’ in Canberra in more than 5,000 days – Vaiolini Ekuasi and Atu Moli have been named on the bench.
Halfback Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa is in line for his 50th Super Rugby appearance after being named on the bench.
This match at Perth’s HBF Park is due to kick off at 4:35 pm WST.
Western Force team to take on Reds
Starting XV: Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Sam Carter, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep (cc); Nic White (cc), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Reesjan Pasitoa, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman
