Former All Blacks centre Richard Kahui is set to make his Western Force debut after being named on the bench against the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday.
With Saturday’s match the Force will unveil two star players in Kahui and former Wallabies scrumhalf Nick Frisby.
Frisby has been named in the starting lineup in place of Force captain Ian Prior, who sustained a shoulder injury in last weekend’s loss to the Reds. The 27-year-old scrumhalf spent five seasons at the Reds, making 66 Super Rugby appearances before moving to Europe and playing for Bordeaux and the Glasgow Warriors.
Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush will captain the side in Prior’s absence.
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In other changes to the starting lineup, inside centre Henry Taefu replaces Nick Jooste in the starting lineup, while veteran prop Greg Holmes will miss several weeks with a broken thumb.
Meanwhile, Kahui will return to southern-hemisphere rugby after spending the past seven seasons in Japan. The 35-year-old, who was part of the All Black’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, will add plenty of experience to a youthful Force lineup.
Western Force – 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Tevin Ferris, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Fergus Lee Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Angus Wagner.
Subs: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Tom Sheminant, 19 Ollie Atkins 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Richard Kahui, 23 Kyle Godwin.
Photo: Getty Images
