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Marcel Brache will start for the Western Force in their return to Super Rugby this weekend – albeit in unique circumstances. With the full competition on ice due to COVID-19, Australia has followed New Zealand’s lead with their domestic teams facing off against each other in a fully domestic competition.
The Force were controversially dropped from Super Rugby at the end of the 2017 campaign and have been part of Global Rapid Rugby since. Suddenly keen to add a fifth team to their emergency arrangement, Rugby Australia extended an offer which the Force accepted.
Brache has been in Perth since 2014 after departing South Africa. The 32-year-old has since turned out for the country of his birth, winning 23 caps for the Eagles and representing the USA at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
The Waratahs lost their opening round match to the Reds but will fancy their chances at home in Sydney against the Force. Led by their all-Wallabies second row of Rob Simmons and Ned Hanigan, their lineup also features Australia captain Michael Hooper with fellow internationals Tetera Faulkner, Jack Dempsey, and Karmichael Hunt on the bench.
Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush runs out for the Force with new Samoa cap Henry Stowers on the blindside flank. Ian Prior captains at scrumhalf and there are three recent European returnees in flyhalf Jono Lance and replacements Greg Holmes and Kyle Godwin.
Kickoff is set for 7:10pm local time, 2:10am Pacific, 5:10am Eastern. Broadcasts will be available on ESPN+ in the USA and TSN Go in Canada.
NSW WARATAHS
1 Angus Bell, 2 Robbie Abel, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons (capt.), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Will Harris, 9 Mitch Short, 10 Will Harrison, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 12 Joey Walton, 13 Alex Newsome, 14 James Ramm, 15 Jack Maddocks
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Karmichael Hunt, 23 Tepai Moeroa / Ben Donaldson
WESTERN FORCE
1 Angus Wagner, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 6 Henry Stowers, 7 Tevin Ferris, 8 Brynard Stander, 9 Ian Prior (capt.), 10 Jono Lance, 11 Brad Lacey, 12 Nick Jooste, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Byron Ralston, 15 Jack McGregor
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Johan Bardoul, 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Henry Taefu, 23 Kyle Godwin
Date: Saturday, July 11
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Kickoff: 19:10 local (02:10 Pacific, 05:10 Eastern)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), TSN Go (Canada)
