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Head Coach Richard Graham has selected a 25 man touring squad for matches against the Lions in Johannesburg this Saturday followed by the Stormers in Cape Town in a fortnight.
Matt Dunning, who has a foot injury, is the only exclusion from the match day 22 that drew against the Blues in Perth last week while Tim Fairbrother and Australian U20’s representative Paul Alo-Emile return to bolster the front row. Big lock Tom Hockings and new signing Brian Sefanaia are the other inclusions into the touring squad.
Flyhalf Willie Ripia will stay in Perth for the remainder of the week and continue to step-up his training load before a decision is made whether he will be brought across for the week six match against the Stormers at Newlands.
A match day 22 for the Lions clash at Ellis Park (Saturday, 19 March) will be advised on Thursday.
Emirates Western Force touring squad
Forwards: Paul Alo-Emile, Richard Brown, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Tim Fairbrother, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson (vc), Jono Jenkins, Kieran Longbottom, Ben McCalman, Tevita Metuisela, Nathan Sharpe (c), Ben Whittaker, Sam Wykes
Backs: Matt Brandon, Nick Cummins, Pat Dellit, Gene Fairbanks, Alfie Mafi, James O’Connor, Brian Sefanaia, Brett Sheehan, Cameron Shepherd, David Smith, James Stannard