USA Eagle Marcel Brache is to start for the Western Force on Friday. The reborn professional Australian team will play against Fiji in Perth in the first match of the new World Series Rugby.
Brache is joined in the side by former South African international Peter Grant in addition to a range of players with prior experience in Super Rugby.
The 30-year-old Brache has 7 caps for the USA and is well positioned to play for the Eagles at RWC 2019. The mid-fielder from Los Angeles started in both RWC 2019 qualifiers against Canada last year.
Friday’s match in Perth will see experimental laws used. They are to include faster scrums and line-outs in addition to more points being awarded for long-range tries and goals.
WESTERN FORCE
15 Peter Grant, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Rodney Iona, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Andrew Deegan 9 Ian Prior (capt.), 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Teven Ferris, 5 Johan Baddoul, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Chris Heiberg, 2 Heath Tessmann, 1 Harry Lloyd
Replacement: 16 Alifeleti Kaitu’u, 17 Tom Sheminant, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Leon Power, 20 Harrison Orr, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 AJ Alatimu, 23 Clay Uyen