Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson has put behind him the recent confusion surrounding his head injury assessment (HIA) as the team gears up to face the Highlanders’ formidable co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai. Donaldson played a key role in the Force’s first victory of the season against Moana Pasifika, where he narrowly missed out on the full MVP votes for the round.
The 24-year-old vice-captain faced an unusual situation just before the match when he was forced to undergo a concussion test after his mouthguard was knocked loose during warm-ups. “Most games I keep my mouthguard in my sock until right at the end and I just put it in for those hits… I had to go to a HIA,” he explained. Despite the frantic moment, Donaldson praised the medical team’s management of the situation, stating that the process went smoothly.
Currently, the Force are in Dunedin, partway through their extended trip in New Zealand, and their training focus has shifted to containing Tavatavanawai. The Highlanders’ powerhouse leads the competition with 15 tackle busts and seven offloads. Donaldson acknowledged the threat Tavatavanawai poses in both attack and defense, highlighting his physical style and breakdown capabilities. “He’s probably the biggest threat in attack and defence… I’m going to be tackling him more often than not, so I’ve just got to try and cut his space and time down,” he stated.
In preparation for the match, Coach Simon Cron has made strategic adjustments to the team’s lineup, including shifting Divad Palu to the centers and welcoming back Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Nick Champion de Crespigny into the pack. The changes aim to bolster the team’s defense and overall performance as they continue their campaign.
With the Force gaining momentum from their recent win and taking lessons from their past matches, fans have reason to feel optimistic as the team heads into this challenging fixture against the Highlanders.
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