Champion de Crespigny leads additions for Force clash in Dunedin

The Western Force will be bolstered by the return of Wallabies Nick Champion de Crespigny and Brandon Paenga-Amosa for Saturday’s Club Rugby Clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Champion de Crespigny returns after a two-game lay-off with a knee strain, boosting the Force line-up that triumphed 35-19 over Moana Pasifika last round.

Hooker Paenga-Amosa along with back Divad Palu are the other additions to the Force starting side for the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific Round 4 game that starts at 11:35am WST on Saturday live on Stan Sport.

Champion de Crespigny’s return to the back row sees Jeremy Williams revert to lock alongside Darcy Swain.

Former All Black George Bridge moves to the left wing, leading to Palu’s return at outside centre.

Paenga-Amosa starts on the front row, alongside loosehead Tom Robertson and tighthead Harry Johnson-Holmes.

Captain and Wallabies lock Williams partners Swain in the second row, with Champion de Crespigny to run on at blindside flanker.

Carlo Tizzano, who has scored in all three games this season, starts at openside flanker, with in-form back-rower Vaiolini Ekuasi at number 8.

Nathan Hastie will partner Ben Donaldson at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, with Hamish Stewart and Palu in the midfield.

Bridge and Darby Lancaster, who impressed with a try on his Force debut, start on the wings with Mac Grealy at full-back.

Scrum-half Henry Robertson returns to the reserves, alongside hooker Nic Dolly, prop Sef Fa’agase, tighthead Misinale Epenisa, lock Franco Molina, utility forward Will Harris and utility backs Max Burey and Kurtley Beale.

Saturday's game is part of Club Rugby Round, where Super Rugby celebrates the thousands of volunteers, coaches, match officials and players brought together by community rugby.

As part of that, Force players will wear the socks of their allocated Fortescue WA Premier Grade clubs during Saturday's game.

Grab a Force 3-Game Flexi Membership from $84 for adults, with all the added Member benefits like 10% merch discounts, Members-only bars, priority access to Wallabies tickets and more.

Game details

Highlanders vs Western Force

Saturday 7 March, 11:35am WST

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live on Stan Sport

Western Force team list

1 Tom Robertson (Dubbo Kangaroos / Kalamunda)

2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Southern Districts / Kalamunda)

3 Harry Johnson-Holmes (Wanderers JRC / Palmyra)

4 Jeremy Williams (c) (Wahroonga Tigers / Joondalup Brothers)

5 Darcy Swain (JCU Mariners / Associates)

6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc) (Sydney University / Cottesloe)

7 Carlo Tizzano (UWA / UWA)

8 Vaiolini Ekuasi (East Tamaki / Kalamunda)

9 Nathan Hastie (Wanneroo / Wanneroo)

10 Ben Donaldson (vc) (Clovelly Eagles / Southern Lions)

11 George Bridge (Ngatapa / Palmyra)

12 Hamish Stewart (Toowoomba Bears / UWA)

13 Divad Palu (Wahroonga Tigers / Nedlands)

14 Darby Lancaster (Kempsey Cannonballs / Nedlands)

15 Mac Grealy (Souths Kookaburras / Perth Bayswater)

Reserves; Nic Dolly (Eastwood / UWA), Sef Fa’agase (Beaudesert Warriors / Wests Scarborough), Misinale Epenisa (Toloa Old Boys / Southern Lions), Franco Molina (Jockey Club Cordoba / Perth Bayswater), Will Harris (Norths Pirates / Joondalup Brothers), Henry Robertson (Scone Brumbies / Wests Scarborough), Max Burey (Wagga Crows / Wests Scarborough), Kurtley Beale (Hunters Hill / UWA)

SKG Radiology Unavailable List

Feao Fotuaika (foot) – medium term

Dylan Pietsch (foot) – medium term

Alex Harford (shoulder) – long term

Doug Philipson (knee) – long term

Grab a Force 3-Game Flexi Membership from $84 for adults, with all the added Member benefits like 10% merch discounts, Members-only bars, priority access to Wallabies tickets and more.