Western Force vs Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific preview: Confirmed lineups and recent form

Jonny BlackJonny Black
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Home teamWestern Force
Away teamCrusaders
VenueHBF Park
CompetitionSuper Rugby Pacific
Kick off time12:55 pm (UK)
Watch Live in the UKSky Sports+

Western Force vs Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific preview as the sides meet at HBF Park. 

The Western Force currently sit in 10th, but a win could see them rise as high as seventh, having won two of their eight matches this season. 

The Crusaders have won four matches in eight this season. A win could see them move into third or fourth as they currently sit on 20 points. 

Read more match previews for all your rugby action here

Western Force vs Crusaders confirmed lineups and team news

Western ForceCrusaders
Forwards
T Robertson1Brewis
Paenga-Amosa2Bell
Epenisa3Calder
Williams4Cahill
Swain5Hannah
Champion de Crespigny6Gardiner
Tizzano7Lee
Ekuasi8Lio-Willie
Backs
H Robertson9Chapman
Donaldson10Kemara
Pietsch11Springer
Kuenzle12McLeod
Bridge13Fainga’anuku
Lomax14Fihaki
Grealy15McNicholl
Replacements
Dolly16Letiu
Fa’agase17Bower
Johnson-Holmes18Sykes-Martin
Molina19Tucker
Harris20Kellow
Hastie21Hotham
Stewart22Reihana
Beale23Reece

Recent Form:

Western Force (Home team): 

ResultDateCompetitionOpponentScore
Loss11th April 2026Super RugbyFijian Drua24-22
Won4th April 2026Super RugbyReds19-42
Loss28th March 2026Super RugbyChiefs14-24
Loss13th March 2026Super RugbyHurricanes31-23
Loss7th March 2026Super RugbyHighlanders29-31

Both of the Western Force’s wins this season have come away from home, while their last five losses have all been by 10 points or less. In the last round they lost 24-22 to the Fijian Drua. They went 19-7 behind before halftime, but were the scorers of the first two tries in the second half. The Force conceded one more try and despite a Will Harris try with nine minutes to go, couldn’t catch their opponents.

Crusaders (Away team): 

ResultDateCompetitionOpponentScore
Loss11th April 2026Super RugbyReds31-26
Won3rd April 2026Super RugbyFijian Drua69-26
Won21st March 2026Super RugbyMoana Pasifika21-50
Won14th March 2026Super RugbyHighlanders29-18
Loss7th March 2026Super RugbyBlues29-13

The Crusaders have been in strong form but lost their match in the last round against the Reds. They had won three games in a row before that and have won four out of the last six games. Against the Reds, they conceded three tries in the first 41 minutes, and both teams scored two more throughout the second half, but they were unable to catch the Australians. 

Western Force vs Crusaders head-to-head record (last five matches):

DateCompetitionWinnerScore
15th March 2025Super RugbyCrusaders55-33
20th April 2024Super RugbyWestern Force37-15
6th May 2023Super RugbyCrusaders48-13
7th May 2022Super RugbyCrusaders15-53
4th June 2021Super RugbyCrusaders 29-21

The Crusaders have won seven of the last eight meetings between these teams with the only Western Force win since 2013 coming in their last home match 2024. The Crusaders have scored 48 or more points in three of the last four matches. In their meeting last year, the Crusaders scored nine tries.

How to watch Western Force vs Crusaders?

Western Force vs Crusaders will be available to watch on Sky Sports+. Coverage starts at 12:50 pm for a 12:55 pm kick-off.

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Jonny is a former rugby player in Ireland's club system and is an Ulster and Ireland fan. He has spent a number of years writing about football and this was what brought him to the Dave Sport Group. As an expert in Irish Rugby, his expertise also stretches to Super Rugby having lived in New Zealand previously.

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