Super Rugby Pacific: Get to know the Western Force’s starting 15 ahead of their opener against the Brumbies

Western Force take on the Brumbies in their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific opener at HBF Park on Saturday - meet the starting 15 charged with kicking off the season with a win. 1. Tom Robertson The reigning Nathan Sharpe Medalist who won the Force’s highest individual men’s honour playing out of position. After packing down the scrum at tighthead last season, Robertson will likely revert to his natural loosehead position. The Wallaby will be joined by more than capable deputies Sef Fa’agase and Marley Pearce. 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa Wallabies hooker who battled injuries during his first season with the Force last year. His scrummaging prowess provides a huge boost to the side, but he will face stiff competition to retain his starting berth when Nic Dolly returns from injury. 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes More than 18 months after he first signed for the Force, Johnson-Holmes will finally play his first competitive game for the club after he tore his ACL on the eve of last season. His fitness will be a welcome boost — deputy recruit Feao Fotuaika is already nursing an injury and back-up Misinale Epenisa is untested at Super Rugby level. 4. Franco Molina Argentinian international with 20 caps for Los Pumas who arrived on a one-year deal. A physical bruiser of a lock, the presence of Molina in addition to captain Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain will strengthen what was already one of the best line-outs in the league last year. 5. Jeremy Williams The Force captain, now an entrenched Wallaby with 25 caps to his name, is in his fourth year with the club. Not just a strong set-piece performer, Williams work-rate around the ground is admirable and he is the type of captain who leads with his actions. 6. Vaiolini Ekuasi Coach Simon Cron called him a “street-fighter” when he first signed for the Force before last season and Ekuasi performed as advertised. Brings physicality in both carries and ruck-hitting and his injury-enforced premature end to last year was an underrated reason for the Force’s late decline. Will Harris is waiting in the wings as a strong rotational piece. 7. Carlo Tizzano The reigning Rugby Australia Super Rugby Pacific player of the year. You would expect the eye-watering 13 tries he scored last year to regress to the mean — but it is unlikely his gaudy tackle numbers will. A ball of energy and a breakdown technician, he has become the face of the team. Fellow Sandgroper Kane Koteka will spell him. 8. Nick Champion de Crespigny From Wallabies bolter to the Test side’s 92nd captain, it may seem like a meteoric rise for Champion de Crespigny. But in truth, the gigantic loose forward arrived battle-hardened from years in France’s Top 14, and the Force reaped the rewards of it last year. Will be looking to build on last year’s great debut season. 9. Nathan Hastie Perth born-and-raised scrum-half returning to his hometown after making his Super Rugby debut with the Highlanders. Has won a three-way battle for the nine jersey in pre-season amid the presence of Henry Robertson and Argentine international Agustin Moyano. 10. Ben Donaldson On his day, he is the best fly-half in Australia and in just two seasons has already given the Force plenty of memorable moments. Has his blemishes and the Wallabies’ usage of him last year did Donaldson no favours, but when he’s confident he is a genuine match-winner. Super Rugby AUS stand-out Max Burey will provide competition for him. 11. Bayley Kuenzle Versatile, big-bodied back who dependability is one of his greatest assets. Made the Wallabies’ train-on squad two years ago after he was moved to the wing, prior to a devastating knee injury. Defensively sound and can get up to a rate of knots quickly, he will start on the wing with Wallaby Dylan Pietsch not quite ready. 12. Hamish Stewart The Force’s Mr. Consistent. Hard-nosed, no-nonsense player who will never be the most stylish, but runs hard at opponents both with and without the ball. A Cron favourite who has used the Force to vault himself into the Wallabies squad. 13. George Bridge Ex-All Black winger who arrived in the off-season and wasted no time in making his presence felt. Cron trusts his rugby IQ so much he had no hesitation in shifting him to outside centre — how he handles the defensive responsibilities which come with playing 13 will be intriguing to watch. 14. Divad Palu Former Melbourne Rebels young gun who grabbed a starting berth at the beginning of last year before injury curtailed his season. This role was earmarked for another ex-Rebel in off-season recruit Darby Lancaster, but the lightning-quick former Australia sevens representative will miss the start of the season through injury. 15. Mac Grealy Crossed from Queensland last year and quietly was one of the Force’s best players. Shifted from wing to full-back under Cron and the speedster happily ate up the additional space provided by the role. Wallabies great Kurtley Beale provides a much-different profile at 15 when called upon. Coach: Simon Cron Now in his fourth season, Cron feels like he has the right team to achieve a historic-first Super Rugby Pacific finals appearance. Was forced into rebuild his coaching staff in the off-season due to departures, but has recruited Nic White, Brad Harris and Craig Dunlea to fill the void.