Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force name nine debutants to face Moana Pasifika amid two fresh prop ACL blows

Nine players will make their Western Force debuts in their Super Rugby Pacific season opener — but it is not all good news, as the club’s wretched luck with front-row fitness has returned. It is deja vu all over again for the Force as they reckon with ACL injuries to Harry Hoopert and new signing Harry Johnson-Holmes on the eve of their Super Rugby Pacific clash against Moana Pasifika at HBF Park on Saturday. Johnson-Holmes was looking likely to start against Moana, until he suffered the long-term knee injury during the warm-up of their trial game against the Brumbies last Friday. Instead, the returning Tom Robertson — whose last game for the Force was ended by a torn ACL — will flip over to tighthead prop, with Joondalup product Marley Pearce joining him and Nic Dolly in the front row. Dolly will be joined by Darcy Swain (lock), Nick Champion de Crespigny (flanker), Vaiolini Ekuasi (number eight), Sio Tomkinson (outside centre), Divad Palu (wing) and Mac Grealy (full-back) in making his Force debut. Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa has missed out on a spot in the team altogether, with Tom Horton winning a spot on the bench, while former All-Black Atu Moli is poised to make his long-awaited debut for the club after missing all last season through injury. Another new signing in Wallabies flier Dylan Pietsch has also been named on the bench, after missing their trial games with a broken hand. Captain Jeremy Williams will partner Swain in the second row, and flanker Carlo Tizzano joins champion de Crespigny and Ekuasi in a new look back row. The Force’s halves pairing of Nic White and Ben Donaldson will provide some stability, as will inside centre Hamish Stewart and winger Harry Potter. Kane Koteka will miss out with a rib injury, while one-time All-Black Matt Proctor is dealing with a shoulder issue. Force XV vs Moan Pasifika, Saturday, HBF Park Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson Jeremy Williams, Darcy Swain Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi Nic White, Ben Donaldson Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson Harry Potter, Divad Palu, Mac Grealy Reserves: Tom Horton, Atu Moli, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Reed Prinsep, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Dylan Pietsch