Super Rugby: Western Force back Reesjan Pasitoa returns, but captain Jeremy Williams to miss Reds clash

After more than 1000 days’ absence, Reesjan Pasitoa is set to make his competitive return to rugby — but Western Force will be without captain Jeremy Williams for their blockbuster clash with Queensland Reds on Saturday. Williams, who underwent a head injury assessment after the Force’s heroic and historic late win over the Brumbies on Saturday, will miss the clash with the Reds through concussion protocols. Queensland were tipped to be the pick of the Australian bunch this season, and met expectations in their opening game as they overcame multiple yellow cards to thrash Moana Pasifika 56-36. Williams’ absence, a week after he disrupted the Brumbies’ line-out, will be felt against a Reds pack featuring Ryan Smith and Josh Canham, with Sam Carter set to deputise. Sio Tomkinson, who laid down the law defensively early in the Force’s upset win over the Brumbies, will also miss the game through concussion protocols, opening the door for Pasitoa to play his first game since 2022. The 23 year-old wowed fans as a young fly-half, but after missing the last two seasons through knee, shoulder and elbow injuries, will partner Hamish Stewart in midfield. Vaiolini Ekuasi comes back into the side after missing last week and Atu Moli has recovered from his late scratching against the Brmubies to be named on the bench, while Nic White and Reed Prinsep will co-captain the side in Williams’ absence and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa is in line to make his 50th Super Rugby appearance. Meanwhile, the Force’s Super W side will name 10 debutants for their round one clash with the Brumbies, to be played prior to the men’s game at HBF Park on Saturday. Fijian Olympic sevens star Adi Vani Buleki and Wallaroos Allana Sikimeti, Sera Naiqama, Ashley Marsters and Cecilia Smith will all start in their first competitive games for the club. Also making their debuts are fly-half Grace Freeman, hooker Loretta Mailangi, Japanese prop Megumi Takagi and scrum-half Ana Afuie. Sikimeti will start in the front row alongside homegrown Wallaroos hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, while Naiqama will form an imposing lock combination with Wallaroo Michaela Leonard. Marsters joins Tamika Jones and Anneka Stephens in the back row, while captain Trilleen Pomare will start in midfield alongside Smith and Buleki will play alongside Brooklyn Teki Joyce and Sheree Hume as outside backs. Western Force XV vs Queensland Reds (Super Rugby Pacific) Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson Darcy Swain, Sam Carter Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Hamish Stewart, Reesjan Pasitoa Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman. Western Force XV vs Brumbies (Super Rugby Women’s) Allana Sikimeti, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Braxton Walker Sera Naiqama, Michaela Leonard Tamika Jones, Anneka Stephens, Ashley Marsters Georgia Cormick, Grace Freeman Trilleen Pomare (c), Cecilia Smith Brooklyn Teki Joyce, Adi Vani Buleki, Sheree Hume Reserves: Loretta Mailangi, Megumi Takagi, Alapeta Ngauamo, Libya Teepa, Pia Tapsell, Ana Afuie, Nicole Ledington, Sammy Treherne.