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Rugby Union: Western Force coach Tim Sampson keeps faith with GRR squad

Western Force coach Tim Sampson has kept faith with the players who have served the Perth club so well in Global Rapid Rugby

Former Reds and Waratahs player Jono Lance will make his debut in Force colours
Former Reds and Waratahs player Jono Lance will make his debut in Force colours

Western Force coach Tim Sampson has kept faith with the players who have served the Perth club so well in Global Rapid Rugby by including 18 in the side to play the Waratahs at the SCG on Saturday night.

Recent Wallabies recruits Greg Holmes and Kyle Godwin will both be starting off the bench as Sampson sticks with the bulk of the side that beat the Malaysia Valke 54-15 in a GRR match on May 14.

“Consistency and continuity will be very important given it is our first Super Rugby game in a few years,” said Sampson.

“We have several players who have performed consistently well for us and have played at this level before. The selection has a very good balance from 1 to 23 in terms of experience.”

There are four changes to the run-on XV from the March outing with two having vast Super Rugby experience.

Jono Lance makes his return in Force colours, starting at flyhalf in place of AJ Alatimu. Lance has 66 previous Super Rugby caps and two Super Rugby titles to his name after playing a key role for the Reds in 2011 and the Waratahs in 2014. He has spent the past three seasons with the Worcester Warriors in England.

All Black lock Jeremy Thrush, whose Super Rugby pedigree includes more than 100 caps for the Hurricanes, has come into the starting line-up with Johan Bardoul moving to the bench.

The Force side is: 1 Angus Wagner, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 6 Henry Stowers, 7 Tevin Ferris, 8 Brynard Stander (vice-captain), 9 Ian Prior (captain), 10 Jono Lance, 11 Brad Lacey, 12 Nick Jooste, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Byron Ralston, 15 Jack McGregor. Bench: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Johan Bardoul, 20 Ollie Callen, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Henry Taefu, 23 Kyle Godwin.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/rugby-union-western-force-coach-tim-sampson-keeps-faith-with-grr-squad/news-story/7d1985ebae2675b0f4b4aadbcfa332ad