Western Force name squad for first-ever Super Rugby Women's semi-final against Waratahs

The Western Force have named their squad for the first knockout game in the club’s history, a Super Rugby Women’s semi-final against the NSW Waratahs at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday.

Zoe Elliott and Atawhai Hotene earn their starting debuts for the winner-takes-all clash, having both come off the bench in the Force’s 36-20 win over the ACT Brumbies in Round 5. The match forms part of a doubleheader alongside the Wallabies’ Nations Championship fixture against Italy, having originally been scheduled at Wanneroo Rugby Club before the upgrade was confirmed last week.

The winner will advance to face either the Fijian Drua or the Queensland Reds in the final.

Elliott starts at tighthead prop alongside three-cap Wallaroos prop Allana Sikimeti, who returns to the starting lineup, and try-scoring hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke. Hotene is named at inside centre, partnering Trilleen Pomare in midfield.

Leicester Tigers-bound fly-half Grace Freeman links up with co-captain Sammy Wood at half-back, while Avi Vani Buleki and Nicole Ledington join returning wing Aiysha Wigley — back from a head injury — in the back three.

The result carries added weight given the context: it was only three weeks ago that the Force beat the Waratahs for the first time in the competition’s history.

Among the reserves is Halley Derera, who will also join Leicester next season, alongside Brooklyn Teki Joyce, Hannah Palelei, Jiowana Sauto, Keira MacAskill, Yuna Sato, Taylor Waterson and Ai Dickson.