Force Coach Outlines Zac Lomax’s Rugby Integration Plan Amidst Hurricanes Defeat
Western Force coach Simon Cron has detailed the strategic approach to fast-tracking the rugby development of former NRL star Zac Lomax, following his side’s 31-23 Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Hurricanes at Napier’s McLean Park. The Force, which held an early second-half lead of 11-5, saw the momentum swing dramatically with a series of clinical tries from a potent Hurricanes reserve unit. This victory propelled the Hurricanes to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings, leapfrogging the ACT Brumbies.
The Brumbies, led by Stephen Larkham, have an immediate opportunity to reclaim the summit when they face the Fijian Drua in Ba on Saturday afternoon. The Western Force, meanwhile, find themselves languishing in 10th place out of 11 teams, with a recurring tendency to fade in the latter stages of matches proving costly. Remarkably, the Perth-based club has held a halftime lead in their last four encounters, yet they are set to enter the upcoming bye week with a disappointing 1-4 win-loss record.
Despite the team’s current standing, neither Cron nor Lomax will be afforded a period of rest. The rapport forged between Cron and Lomax during discussions about the potential code switch has been significant, and Cron is acutely aware of the considerable task ahead in transitioning the talented centre to the 15-man game. Lomax’s last experience playing rugby union dates back to his teenage years at age 15. His debut for the Force is slated for March 28th, a challenging baptism against the formidable Chiefs in Perth.
Cron expressed his enthusiasm for Lomax’s impending arrival, stating, “He’s a great man. The conversations I’ve had with him have been amazing. Him and his partner Kayla, they’re a lovely couple. He’s really driven. He’s talented. He’s been wanting to play rugby the whole time. You should have seen him. He’s biting at the bit to play rugby, and he feels like that’s his future. So we’re excited to be part of it.”
Lomax’s Rugby Roadmap: Skill Development and Positional Focus
The Force’s strategy for rapidly integrating Lomax into the rugby union fold is multifaceted. Cron anticipates a rigorous introduction, explaining, “There’ll be a bit of crunch and punch. There’ll be a bit of groundwork. He knows that’s coming. A little bit of positional play but I mean, we don’t have to coach him how to do a high ball and how to kick. He can run. He’s powerful. We’ve just got to be able to give him the parts of the game he needs.”
While in-season development presents inherent challenges, the coaching staff has identified specific positions for Lomax to target early in his tenure. “In season, it’s a little bit more challenging to learn too many positions, but definitely winger and 15 (fullback) would be the ones we target early on. Just coaching them, backfield coverage and positioning would be key,” Cron elaborated.
It is highly improbable that Lomax will displace the current starting winger, Darby Lancaster, in the match against the Chiefs. Lancaster was a standout performer in Napier, notching two tries and consistently posing a threat with his blistering pace, raw power, and deceptive footwork, which were crucial in keeping his side competitive.
Hurricanes’ Depth and Force’s Second-Half Struggles
The Hurricanes’ victory was cemented by tries from Cam Roigard, Brad Shields, Devan Flanders, Callum Harkin, and Warner Dearns. Force captain Jeremy Williams reflected on the turning point of the match, admitting, “That first 20 in the second half we got punched in the face a bit. Really great reply in the end. But if only there were five more minutes. A lot of positives. It’s no good being close. You’ve got to get the win. Lots of positives to take out of tonight. We’ve got a bye week coming up. Good chance to get away from footy. Refresh the mind, refresh the body. Get back to Perth and start ripping in.”
Historically, the Hurricanes have maintained a perfect home record against the Force. Clark Laidlaw’s squad showcased their impressive depth by introducing seasoned All Blacks Ruben Love, Tyrel Lomax, and Asafo Aumua, alongside Japanese captain Dearns, in the second half. However, Tyrel Lomax’s return was unfortunately cut short by a recurrence of an ankle injury late in the game.
The impact of these substitutions was immediate, as the Hurricanes, trailing 8-5 at halftime, rallied to secure their third win in four games, unleashing a scoring blitz that saw them cross the try line four times in a 20-minute period. Dearns sealed the victory in the 69th minute, charging down a kick from Force five-eighth Ben Donaldson and sprinting clear to score. At that juncture, the Hurricanes held a commanding 31-11 lead. However, they conceded two late tries, surrendering a crucial bonus point while lock Isaia Walker-Leawere was serving a yellow card.
Walker-Leawere was sin-binned for a dangerous cleanout on Darcy Swain, although the television match official deemed the incident did not warrant a red card.
The Force had drawn first blood early in the contest when Lancaster, after evading Bailyn Sullivan, touched down the opening try. Shortly before halftime, Hurricanes halfback Roigard responded, executing a clever dummy pass five metres from the line and slicing through a gap in the Force defence.
The Force’s defensive efforts in the first half were commendable, effectively stifling the Hurricanes’ attacking threats and forcing them into kicking for territory. Donaldson’s second penalty extended the Force’s lead to six points, prompting the Hurricanes to deploy their formidable reserve players. Aumua, Lomax, Dearns, and Xavier Numia entered the fray early in the second half, joining halftime replacement Love, and the injection of experience immediately elevated the team’s intensity.
Shields powered over for the go-ahead try on his 100th Super Rugby start, with Flanders adding another three minutes later. Harkin scored in the 60th minute following a powerful surge from Aumua, before Dearns’ charge-down try sealed the win for the Hurricanes. The Force managed to cross the whitewash twice in the dying moments, mitigating a heavier defeat and denying the Hurricanes a bonus point.
Reflecting on the match, Laidlaw commented, “It was a mixed bag. We started slowly and we know the Force up front, they have a lot of Wallabies in their pack, and it felt they got on top of us physically in the first half. In the second half for 25 minutes we looked really good again, we put the ball in the right end of the field and scored a couple of nice tries, then we finished poorly too. It’s a weird feeling. It feels like we’ve lost a game.” The Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Highlanders in Dunedin next Friday.
