Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force and Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa returns to face Highlanders

Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa is set to return after two weeks on the sidelines as one of two starting 15 changes for Western Force’s crucial clash with Highlanders. Paenga-Amosa, who sat out the win over Fijian Drua and narrow loss to the Reds with Achilles soreness, joins number eight Vaiolini Ekuasi as additions to the Force’s forward pack, with Nic Dolly and Will Harris dropping to the bench. Outside back George Poolman and prop Josh Smith have also been added to the bench at the expense of Reesjan Pasitoa and Ryan Coxon. It is an otherwise unchanged 23 for the Force as they look to cement their spot in the top six heading into their first bye of the season. Sio Tomkinson, who played 43 games for the Kiwi outfit, has retained the 13 jersey for the Force and will bring up his 50th Super Rugby match on Saturday. With Highlanders just three points and two spots behind them, a loss would threaten the Force’s finals hopes and the visitors have won seven of their last eight Super Rugby Pacific games against the hosts. Conversely, if the Force were to win and even snag a bonus point, they could move as high as fourth if other results fall their way. The Force will also have to overcome their poor record against Kiwi teams, having lost 35 of their past 38 trans-Tasman clashes. Recent clashes against the Highlanders have been closely-fought contests; the Force beat them 30-17 at HBF Park in 2023, either side of a 43-35 defeat in Invercargill and a 7-6 loss in Dunedin last season. Having already surpassed Scott Staniforth’s record of nine for most tries scored in a single season by a Force player, Carlo Tizzano is within sight of the all-time record of 12. Tizzano needs another two tries to move level with the record, held by Malcolm Marx, Codie Taylor and former Force hooker Folau Fainga’a. Meanwhile, the Force women have suffered a blow ahead of their do-or-die semifinal against the Waratahs on Sunday, with Fijian winger Adi Vani Buleki unavailable. Vani Buleki was one of the Force’s best in the their 47-10 thrashing at the hands of the Reds last Sunday, and has been replaced by 14-cap Wallaroo winger Samantha Treherne, while Wanneroo teenager Ngamihi Monk will debut on the other wing in place of Sheree Hume. Scrum-half Georgia Cormick returns to the bench, while outside back Halley Derera is in line for her Force Super W debut on the bench. Otherwise, it is an unchanged Force side who will be looking to prove the heavy defeat to Queensland was merely an aberration. The Force went down to the Waratahs in agonising fashion in round two, conceding a late try to fall 26-21 to the reigning champions. Western Force vs Highlanders (Super Rugby Pacific, HBF Park 4.35pm) Marley Pearce, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi Nic White (vc), Ben Donaldson Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy Reserves: Nic Dolly, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Reed Prinsep (vc), Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman. Western Force vs Waratahs (Super Rugby Women, Leichhardt Oval 1.05pm) Megumi Takagi, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Braxton Walker Sera Naiqama, Michaela Leonard Tamika Jones, Ashley Marsters, Pia Tapsell Mio Yamanaka, Nicole Ledington Trilleen Pomare (c), Cecilia Smith Brooklyn Teki Joyce, Ngamihi Monk, Samantha Treherne Reserves: Madi Schuck, Hannah Palelei, Alapeta Ngauamo, Rosie Ebbage, Nami Dickson, Georgia Cormick, Sheree Hume, Halley Derera.