Team News: Super Rugby Women Round 2 - Western Force out to make their mark

The Super Rugby Women's season continues on into round two this weekend, with the battle lines drawn from the opening round of action.

The New South Wales Waratahs commenced their title defence with a stunning opening round win over Fijiana Drua, and the Brumbies ended a two-year wait for a Super W victory as they stunned the Reds. This sees the Sydney and Canberra sides level on the points ladder, with the Waratahs at the summit solely on points difference.

Western Force enter the fray this weekend, following their opening round bye to begin the competition. The Perth side are out for a mission of an away day, as they travel across Australia and out into the South Pacific for their clash with the Drua in Lautoka, Fiji. The Reds take the bye this week, with either the NSW Waratahs or the Brumbies set to have their winning start come to an end in Canberra. Here's a full run down of all the team news ahead of the weekend's fixtures.

Venue: Churchill Park
Host City: Lautoka, Fiji
Kick-off: 12:05pm AEST, Saturday 13 June | 2:05pm Fiji Time | 3:05am UK

Fijiana Drua return to Churchill Park looking to bounce back from their opening-round defeat and have made several changes to their side for the visit of the Western Force.

The hosts hand a Drua debut to Vika Nakacia in midfield, while Repeka Tove comes into the starting side on the wing. The reshuffle sees Kolora Lomani move to scrum-half and Ivamere Rokowati start at full-back. In the forwards, Mereoni Nakesa shifts from lock to number eight, Carletta Yee moves into the second row and Alfreda Fisher starts at openside flanker.

The Force arrive in Fiji with six debutants in their matchday squad, including Japanese international Seina Saito at number eight and winger Ella Pietsch. Fellow Japanese star Chiharu Nezuka is among four potential debutants on the bench.

There is also a welcome return for full-back Aiysha Wigley, who plays her first match in almost 800 days after recovering from an ACL injury. The visitors boast 12 internationals in their starting XV, with Trilleen Pomare and Samantha Wood sharing the captaincy. Hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke reaches a milestone 25th appearance for the Force.

Drua: 1 Karalaini Naisewa, 2 Bitila Tawake (c), 3 Tiana Robanakadavu, 4 Karavaki Lutumaibau, 5 Carletta Yee, 6 Nunia Daunimoala, 7 Alfreda Fisher, 8 Mereoni Nakesa, 9 Kolora Lomani, 10 Varanisese Qoro, 11 Aqela Raitubu, 12 Josivini Naihamu, 13 Vika Nakacia, 14 Repeka Tove, 15 Ivamere Rokowati.

Replacements: 16 Keleni Marawa, 17 Zipporah Sorokacika, 18 Keri Lawavou, 19 Vilisi Tivalele, 20 Salaseini Railumu, 21 Evivi Senikarivi, 22 Litiana Vueti, 23 Michella’e Stolz.

Western Force: 1 Allana Sikimeti, 2 Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, 3 Alapeta Ngauamo, 4 Sera Naiqama, 5 Michaela Leonard, 6 Pia Tapsell, 7 Anneka Stephens, 8 Seina Saito, 9 Samantha Wood (co-c), 10 Nicole Ledington, 11 Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, 12 Trilleen Pomare (co-c), 13 Cecilia Smith, 14 Ella Pietsch, 15 Aiysha Wigley.

Replacements: 16 Chiharu Nezuka, 17 Hannah Palelei, 18 Zoe Elliot, 19 Yuna Sato, 20 Taylor Waterson, 21 Ai Dickson, 22 Ngamihi Monk, 23 Adi Vani Buleki.

Venue: Viking Park
Host City: Canberra, Australia
Kick-off: 2:05pm AEST, Sunday 14 June | 5:05am UK

The ACT Brumbies have received a significant boost ahead of their Round 2 clash with the NSW Waratahs, with number eight Tabua Tuinakauvadra returning after her late withdrawal before last weekend's opener.

Her return sees Wallaroos debutant Lily Bone move to blindside flanker and captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona shift to openside. Head coach James Erwin has also made changes in the backs, with Faitala Moleka starting at fly-half and Ella Ryan moving to full-back.

USA international Mona Lisa Tupou is in line to make her Brumbies debut from the bench, alongside George Hayes and Paua Lee Going.

The Waratahs have been forced into further changes through injury, with Adi Talakai and Caitlyn Halse unavailable. Brittany Merlo comes into the front row, while Edie Burke earns her first start after making her debut last week. Her inclusion sees Desiree Miller move to full-back.

Wallaroos pair Faliki Pohiva and Ruby Anderson are among the replacements as head coach Mike Ruthven opts for a 6-2 bench split.

ACT Brumbies: 1 Martha Fua, 2 Tania Naden, 3 Wako Kitano, 4 Ash Fernandez, 5 Jess Grant, 6 Lily Bone, 7 Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c), 8 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 9 Anne Fernandez de Corres, 10 Faitala Moleka, 11 Ivania Wong, 12 Merania Paraone, 13 Bonnie Brewer, 14 Ash Bishop, 15 Ella Ryan.

Replacements: 16 Millie Parker, 17 Linda Emelio, 18 Mona Lisa Tupou, 19 Easter Savelio, 20 Rayna Ellis, 21 Tessa Good, 22 George Hayes, 23 Paua Lee Going.

NSW Waratahs: 1 Brianna Hoy, 2 Brittany Merlo, 3 Bridie O'Gorman, 4 Leilani Nathan, 5 Kaitlan Leaney, 6 Piper Duck, 7 Emily Chancellor (c), 8 Nicole Nathan, 9 Piper Simons, 10 Pleuni Klevit, 11 Edie Burke, 12 Rosie Ferguson, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Amelia Whitaker, 15 Desiree Miller.

Replacements: 16 Nancy Volkman, 17 Emily Robinson, 18 Faliki Pohiva, 19 Grace Gillies, 20 Ruby Anderson, 21 Taj Heald, 22 Martha Harvey, 23 Lusiana Vesikula.