The Western Force have named playmaker Jono Lance to start at flyhalf in the team to play the Cheetahs at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Lance returns to the team after a 14-week stint on the sidelines after tearing his pectoral muscle against the Brumbies in Perth back in Round Three and after showing great commitment to his rehabilitation will return at full fitness slightly ahead of schedule.
In further changes to the side that ran out against the Rebels before the international break, Tetera Faulkner will start at tighthead, Angus Cottrell replaces the injured Ben McCalman in the No.8 jersey, Ian Prior steps in at scrumhalf while Junior Rasolea will run on at outside centre.
Interim Head Coach Dave Wessels said the team is looking forward to challenge the Cheetahs pose on Saturday night as the team strives to attack the last three weeks of the season.
“We’ve got 240 minutes left in the season. We know that we’ve been really close to an outcome in our last few games and we’ve trained hard in this Test window to get the reward we want for all the months of hard work we’ve put in.”
In the front row Pek Cowan will again captain the side, hooker Harry Scoble has been named to earn his sixth Asteron Life Super Rugby cap with Tetera Faulkner to pack down at tighthead.
After making his Wallabies debut last weekend Adam Coleman will aim to carry his strong form back to Super Rugby when links up with Ross Haylett-Petty in the second row.
Rounding out the starting pack, Brynard Stander and Chris Alcock will start at blindside and openside flanker respectively with Angus Cottrell at No.8.
In the halves Ian Prior will look to provide quality service and facilitate the Force attack when he links up with Jono Lance for just the second time this season. Wessels said he’s looking forward to seeing Lance back in the fold after an extended period of time on the sideline.
“Jono deserves a lot of credit for all the hard work he’s put in to get himself in such good physical shape after a long layoff. Both he and Peter (Grant) have trained extremely well over the last few weeks.”
In midfield Kyle Godwin fills the No.12 jersey while Junior Rasolea has been elevated to the starting XV at outside centre.
The back three remains unchanged from the club’s last outing with Luke Morahan and Marcel Brache named on the wings while Dane Haylett-Petty will be keen to continue his brilliant form after starring for the Wallabies in the Test series with England.
Western Force
1 Pek Cowan (C) , 2 Harry Scoble , 3 Tetera Faulkner , 4 Ross Haylett-Petty , 5 Adam Coleman , 6 Brynard Stander , 7 Chris Alcock , 8 Angus Cottrell , 9 Ian Prior , 10 Jono Lance , 11 Marcel Brache , 12 Kyle Godwin , 13 Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea , 14 Luke Morahan , 15 Dane Haylett-Petty
Replacements : 16 Anaru Rangi , 17 Francois van Wyk , 18 Guy Millar , 19 Rory Walton , 20 Richard Hardwick , 21 Ryan Louwrens , 22 Peter Grant , 23 Semisi Masirewa
