Zürcher Nachrichten - White leads six Wallabies in Force side to face Lions, but no Beale

The tourists open their nine-game Australian itinerary in Perth on Saturday, desperate to make a winning start after a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warm-up in Dublin last week.

They will face a side skippered by experienced scrum-half Nic White, who along with Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain were all released from Australia's training camp in Sydney.

Team-mates Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter were not and will miss the game.

Beale, a 95-Test veteran, was set to play but picked up a hamstring niggle in training on Tuesday.

To compensate, Australia coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson to make a late dash to Perth.

White partners Alex Harford in the halves with Pietsch and Mac Grealy on the wings and Matt Proctor forming a midfield with Hamish Stewart. Donaldson will start at full-back.

Robertson will line up in the front row alongside Brandon Paenga-Amosa and retiring prop Ollie Hoskins.

Sam Carter will play his final game in Force colours partnering Swain, who last week earned his first Wallabies call-up since 2022, in the locks.

Will Harris, Champion de Crespigny and Vaiolini make up the back row.

The Force have played the Lions once before, losing 69-17 in 2013.

Western Force (15-1):

Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris; Darcy Swain, Sam Carter; Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson

Reserves: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle

S.Scheidegger--NZN