Williams returns for Force trip to face Highlanders

[The InnFORCEr]

Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 11:57 AM
by Ben Somerford


The Western Force will welcome back captain Jeremy Williams off the bench following injury for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Round 10 clash away to the Highlanders.

Williams, who has missed the past three games with injury, will start as a reserve with fellow lock Izack Rodda elevated into the starting XV for ex-Highlander Tom Franklin (head injury protocols).

Rodda will make his first Super Rugby Pacific start this season, having successfully returned from a quad injury off the bench for an hour in last Saturday’s 37-15 win over the Crusaders in front of almost 8,000 fans at HBF Park.

Franklin is one of three Force players unavailable due to head injury protocols along with prop Ryan Coxon and hooker Ben Funnell after sustaining knocks in the win over the Crusaders.

Joondalup Brothers front-rower Marley Pearce will start for the first time since Round 1 for Coxon. Hooker Feleti Kaitu’u and Josh Bartlett also return to the matchday 23.

Nic White will continue as captain with skipper Williams back in the side off the bench.

Saturday’s Round 10 fixture looms as a critical one in the finals race against the 10th-placed Highlanders (2-6) with both sides gunning for top-eight spots.

Kick-off at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium is 3:05pm WST, with the game streamed live on Stan Sport. There will be regular updates on @WesternForce social media channels.

Game details

Highlanders v Western Force

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 3:05pm WST

Live on Stan Sport

Force Team List

Starting XV: Marley Pearce, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Sam Carter, Izack Rodda, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep, Nic White (c), Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale

Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Josh Bartlett, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Jeremy Williams, Michael Wells, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell

https://westernforce.rugby/news/west...-rugby-2024424

[chiraag]

Great to have Williams back - we should have a real advantage in the locks.
Still no Wagner, Amone or Hoopert is disappointing. 3 out of our 4 props make me nervous come scrum time, although Marley did do very well last week.

Team looks good other than that though. Hopefully we continue on from our performance last week, in which case we should be able to grab an important win away from home. Highlanders should be better than they were last week with the return of Fakatava, Patchell and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to their starting side, but think we should still have their measure.

HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Henry Bell, Saula Ma’u, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (c), Folau Fakatava, Rhys Patchell, Connor Garden-Bachop, Jake Te Hiwi, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

RESERVES: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jermaine Ainsley, Will Tucker, Hugh Renton, James Arscott, Cameron Millar, Martin Bogodo

[Kernow]

Great to have Williams back - we should have a real advantage in the locks.
Still no Wagner, Amone or Hoopert is disappointing. 3 out of our 4 props make me nervous come scrum time, although Marley did do very well last week.

Anyone know if Wagner and Amone got a run in their club games last week, if so how'd they go?

[shasta]

The Glasshouse is the scene of our bravest victory IMO. Don't recall the year but the boys hung tough for the win even though down to 12 on the paddock IIRC. Let's hope for more of the same.

[Garry Owen]

Anyone know if Wagner and Amone got a run in their club games last week, if so how'd they go?

Not sure about last week but Amone is listed to start for soaks this week

[valzc]

The Glasshouse is the scene of our bravest victory IMO. Don't recall the year but the boys hung tough for the win even though down to 12 on the paddock IIRC. Let's hope for more of the same.

Remember that game vividly! Sharpie & the boys held them out for countless scrums on the try line to get the win.

[todd4]

We need to be able to string two good wins together.

[Sheikh]

We need to be able to string two wins together.

FIFY

[GIGS20]

We need to be able to string two good wins together.

I'll take a good win and an ugly win at this point.

It's all about the Dubbs

[boof1050]

Tom Franklin is going to be missed. Would rather see Rodda be given an opportunity to work his way back to match fitness from the bench but injuries obviously dictate this outcome. Good luck to Marley against Ethan De Groot as well. Should be a good contest.

[andrewM]

Seem to be going well so far..

[brokendown gunfighter]

Managing to watch it from Norway

[andrewM]

So what do we need to do in the second half?
They are looking a bit dangerous when they get some room

[andrewM]

Managing to watch it from Norway

Good effort!!

[andrewM]

There was one Force supporter in the crowd!