Black Ferns prop Kalounivale starts as Reds seek first win against Western Force

Tanya Kalounivale will make her first regular-season start for the Queensland Reds on Saturday, named at tighthead prop for a round three Super Rugby Women’s clash against the Western Force at Wanneroo Rugby Club. The 29-Test Black Ferns international joined the Reds in mid-May and featured in the matchday 23 during round one, but this marks her first appearance in the starting XV.

Kalounivale lines up alongside Wallaroos prop Bree-Anna Browne and hooker Zophronia Setu in the front row, with Lucy Thorpe and Vinetu Teutau forming the second row. Jemma Bemrose captains the side from blindside flanker, with Zoe Hanna on the openside and Tiarna Molloy at number eight. In the backs, Sarah Dougherty and Akira Kelly pair up at halfback, Ava Wereta and Harmony Vatau form the centre partnership, and Wallaroo Lori Cramer returns to the run-on side in the outside backs alongside wingers Piper Flynn and Briana Dascombe.

Coach Andrew Fraser made the changes after Queensland went down 12-15 to the ACT Brumbies in round one — a result he acknowledged hit the squad hard. “It was a tough loss and the girls took it hard. I’ll commend the whole squad for the way they’ve applied themselves since,” Fraser said. “The players have talked about proving ourselves but that’s to no one else but themselves. There’s a resolve there. The Force are a full-time training program and we are part-time. We are looking forward to turning up and showing what we are capable of.”

Both Queensland and the Force enter the fixture at 0-1, each having had a bye week in the opening two rounds. Reigning champions the NSW Waratahs, the Fijian Drua, and the Brumbies have all recorded at least one win during that period, making Saturday’s contest a significant early-season marker for both sides.

The Force will be boosted by the return of fly-half Grace Freeman, who has been named on the bench more than 450 days after suffering a foot injury against the Fijian Drua. Freeman’s comeback adds an experienced option for Western Force as they also look to get off the mark.