Former Australia U20s scrum-half Doug Philipson is about to debut in Super Rugby Pacific after being named on the bench for the Western Drive. Philipson will look so as to add influence off the pine through the Drive’s intriguing match away to the Chiefs on Friday night.
After a nail-biting 17-all draw with the Hurricanes final weekend, the Force have turned their consideration to a different decisive conflict with a New Zealand facet. Coach Simon Cron has made three adjustments to the beginning facet that went to Tremendous Level with the Canes in Perth.
Halfback Henry Robertson has been named within the beginning facet for the primary time, with Nic White unavailable for the spherical 11 match. Entrance-rower Ryan Coxon can be again within the combine after recovering from a rib damage, and Will Harris has been named within the backrow.
On the bench, Philipson is one name to look out for, with the former Junior Wallabies halfback receiving a chance to step up against one of the competition heavyweights. Philipson played three matches for Australia at the U20 Rugby Championship in 2024, including two starts.
In the forwards, Ryan Coxon joins one-Test England hooker Nic Dolly and TOm Robertson in the front row. Captain Jeremy Williams will link up with Darcy Swains as the locking duo once again, while Harris joins the in-form duo of Carlo Tizzano and Nick Champion de Crespigny in the loose.
Robertson joins Wallaby Ben Donaldson in the halves, while Hamish Stewart and Sio Tomkinson are the centre pairing. Bayley Kuenzle will start on the left wing, with Harry Potter on the right, and Mac Grealy rounds out the starting side at fullback.
This match will kick off at 3:05 pm WST on Friday afternoon. It’ll be held at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval, with a sold out crowd expected for the match.
The Force are fifth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder and could leapfrog the Queensland Reds into fourth depending on the result in their match against the Blues at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
Western Force team to take on Chiefs
Starting XV: Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Champion de Crespigny; Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Reserves: Tom Horton, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Sam Carter, Reed Prinsep (vc), Doug Philipson, Max Burey, George Poolman
