O'Connor and Beale headline Western Force squad for Super Rugby AUS Grand Final

James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale will be part of a Wallaby-laden Western Force squad when the Perth side host the Super Rugby AUS Grand Final at Scotch College Playing Fields on Saturday, looking to go one better after falling short in last season’s decider.

O’Connor has been named among the replacements, while the 95-Test Beale starts at inside centre alongside Boston Fakafanua in the midfield. Tom Robertson and Dylan Pietsch are the other capped Wallabies in the matchday 25, with uncapped prospect Harry McLaughlin-Phillips selected at fly-half after earning a place in the most recent Wallabies training squad.

One-Test England international Nic Dolly captains the side from hooker, packing down alongside Robertson and Misinale Epenisa in the front row. Zak Healey and Will Harris form the lock pairing, with Kane Koteka and Jack Daly at flanker and Jackson Iose at number eight. Nathan Hastie partners McLaughlin-Phillips in the halves.

In the back three, HSBC SVNS Series regulars Wallace Charlie and Aden Ekanayake add further pace and experience, with Australia A representative Mac Grealy completing the starting lineup alongside Pietsch and Charlie.

Entry to the Grand Final is free for supporters attending at Scotch College Playing Fields.

Western Force team for the Super Rugby AUS Grand Final

1. Tom Robertson, 2. Nic Dolly (c), 3. Misinale Epenisa, 4. Zak Healey, 5. Will Harris (vc), 6. Kane Koteka, 7. Jack Daly, 8. Jackson Iose, 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 11. Wallace Charlie, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Boston Fakafanua, 14. Dylan Pietsch, 15. Mac Grealy (vc)

Replacements: 16. Albert Alcock, 17. Max Sawers, 18. Brad Kuhn, 19. Regin Pratt, 20. Aden Ekanayake, 21. Ronan Leahy, 22. Nate Gallagher, 23. Tim Sail, 24. Luke Aiken, 25. James O’Connor