Lomax Plan Revealed: Force ‘Punched in the Face’

Force’s Lomax Transition: Cron Details Rugby’s Steep Learning Curve

Western Force coach Simon Cron has outlined the strategic approach to readying former NRL star Zac Lomax for the rigours of Super Rugby Pacific, following his side’s hard-fought 31-23 defeat against the Hurricanes in Napier. The Force, despite a promising start, ultimately succumbed to a powerful Hurricanes bench that ignited a decisive second-half surge.

The loss leaves the Force languishing in 10th place on the 11-team ladder, a position that has become all too familiar as late-game fade-outs continue to plague their campaign. This latest defeat marks another instance where the Perth-based club has held a halftime lead, only to falter in the second stanza. With a 1-4 record heading into their bye week, the focus for Lomax and Cron is squarely on the future.

Cron and Lomax have already forged a strong connection discussing the potential code switch, and the Force coach acknowledges the significant challenge ahead. Lomax, who hasn’t played rugby union since he was 15, is slated to make his Force debut against the formidable Chiefs in Perth on March 28th.

“He’s a great man. The conversations I’ve had with him have been amazing,” Cron stated. “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.”

Fast-Tracking Lomax’s Rugby Development

The plan to accelerate Lomax’s transition involves a multifaceted approach, blending physicality with targeted skill development. Cron anticipates a period of intense groundwork for the former Dragons playmaker.

“There’ll be a bit of crunch and punch,” Cron explained. “There’ll be a bit of ground work. 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.”

Given the ongoing Super Rugby Pacific season, the Force will focus on specific positional roles to maximise Lomax’s impact.

• Targeted Positions:

  • Winger
  • Fullback (Number 15)

  The coaching staff will concentrate on refining his skills in these areas, with particular emphasis on backfield coverage and positional awareness.

It’s unlikely that Lomax will immediately dislodge current starting winger Darby Lancaster, who was a standout performer against the Hurricanes. Lancaster’s pace, power, and footwork were instrumental in keeping the Force competitive, and he contributed two tries to the scoreboard.

Hurricanes’ Clinical Second Half Seals Victory

The Hurricanes, buoyed by a star-studded bench, orchestrated a clinical comeback in the second half. Tries from Cam Roigard, Brad Shields, Devan Flanders, Callum Harkin, and Warner Dearns ultimately secured the victory.

“That first 20 in the second half we got punched in the face a bit,” admitted Force captain Jeremy Williams. “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.”

The Hurricanes’ depth was on full display as players like All Blacks Ruben Love and Tyrel Lomax, alongside Japan captain Dearns, were introduced in the second half. However, Tyrel Lomax’s return was unfortunately cut short by a fresh ankle injury late in the match.

The impact of the Hurricanes’ replacements was immediate. They rallied from an 8-5 halftime deficit to score four tries in a blistering 20-minute period. Dearns sealed the win in the 69th minute with a crucial charge-down of Ben Donaldson’s kick, followed by a sprint to the try line.

While the Hurricanes led 31-11 at that point, they conceded two late tries while lock Isaia Walker-Leawere was in the sin bin, surrendering a potential bonus point. Walker-Leawere’s yellow card was issued for a reckless cleanout on Darcy Swain.

The Force had initially taken the lead through a try from Darby Lancaster, who showcased his agility by stepping past Bailyn Sullivan. Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard responded shortly before halftime with a deceptive dummy and a sharp break through the defence.

The Force’s defensive pressure in the first half significantly stifled the Hurricanes’ attacking options, forcing them to rely on tactical kicking. Donaldson extended the Force’s lead with a penalty, prompting the Hurricanes to unleash their more experienced players.

The introduction of Aumua, Lomax, Dearns, and Xavier Numia, coupled with halftime replacement Love, immediately injected a new level of intensity into the Hurricanes’ play. Shields powered over for the go-ahead try on his 100th Super Rugby start, followed by Flanders’ try just minutes later. Harkin added another try on the hour mark after a strong run from Aumua, before Dearns’ try sealed the victory.

Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw reflected on the match as 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,” Laidlaw commented. “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 set to face the Highlanders in Dunedin next Friday.