Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa says they welcome Queensland Reds challenge

Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa says his side will not be overawed by Queensland Reds’ stars ahead of Saturday’s big clash at HBF Park. And while he was all smiles as he reminisced with Queensland front-rower Sef Fa’agase on Friday, the ex-Red said it will be strictly business when the two teams meet on the field. Panega-Amosa said the Force will meet the challenge of the Reds head on, but denied they had put any extra emphasis into their preparation given both teams were undefeated. The Wallabies rake and Force starter Nic Dolly will go head-to-head with Test-capped Matt Faessler and Josh Nasser in a game which will feature several match-ups between Australian stars. Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight will lock horns at the breakdown, Nic White and Ben Donaldson will try to wrest control of the game from fellow Wallabies halves contenders Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh, while the wing match-up between Dylan Pietsch and Filipo Daugunu promises fireworks. Paenga-Amosa acknowledged it was a huge game for both sides, but said the Force could not afford to be distracted by who was standing opposite them, or how much international experience they had. “The reality of this competition is there’s Wallabies, there’s All Blacks in every team, so every game there’s a big outing,” he said. “After a while, you get used to playing against the jersey. You look past the aspect of ‘he’s a Wallaby or an All Black’, you look at ‘who am I playing against’ because there’s stars in every team.” Paenga-Amosa made his name at the Reds before he left for France, arriving back in Australia at the Force during the off-season, and Saturday’s game will be his first match back against Queensland. “I’m a bit nervous, I’m not going to lie. I did play quite a few games for the Reds and I’ll always have a lot of love for the Quensland Reds jersey, but the reality is I’m playing in a blue jersey now and I’m going up against the Reds,” Paenga-Amosa said. “The best way I can honour and respect the Reds jersey is to go as hard as I can against it.” Making his Force debut last week, Paenga-Amosa scored the winning try in the Force’s incredible win over the Brumbies, celebrating with a ‘W’ hand symbol. “I’m trying to bring a bit more noise to the Western Force jersey and a bit more representation,” he said. “I hope people in WA like it, because I’m all about it, I know the boys are all about it too.” With this weekend being Super Rugby Pacific’s Culture Round, Paenga-Amosa — who has Samoan heritage like Fa’agase — said he had enjoyed learning about his teammates’ cultural backgrounds this week. “Everybody’s family have made huge sacrifices. People that aren’t originally from Australia, like myself, moving over here at a young age, it does remind you of the journey my parents and my grandparents made,” he said.