Source : ABC NEWS
Had Zac Lomax’s starting debut for the Western Force been disastrous, it would still deserve to be considered a success.
After all, Lomax can only improve by making mistakes and he is on a steep learning curve at this early stage of his professional rugby career.
As it turned out, he did produce some errors but also provided several highlights across a 58-minute stint in the Force’s 31-26 win over the Crusaders in Perth on Saturday night.
It was a performance that suggested the ex-NRL star is making progress in his hastily arranged code switch.
A second-half try showed Lomax’s value as a finisher, while in the 34th minute his excellent support play — having come across from the blindside wing — helped set up teammate Henry Robertson for his opening five-pointer.
Zac Lomax (right) kept himself busy in his first start for the Force. (Getty Images: Janelle St Pierre)
Lomax was a constant threat under the high ball, to the extent the Crusaders were penalised for an obstruction play early in the second half when Dallas McLeod deliberately blocked the path of the Force winger.
On two successful kick receptions though, Lomax undid his good work by attempting to offload the ball, instead of taking it to the ground.
The Force coughed up possession both times, with the first turnover leading to a Crusaders try.
Lomax was given a baptism of fire in how to play wing defensively, with the Crusaders twice creating an overlap down his edge.
But those blemishes were the fault of more than one player in the Force’s defensive line, so blame cannot be apportioned solely to Lomax.
Eighty minutes on the field — across two matches — is not enough time to judge whether he will earn Wallabies selection this year.
But there are promising signs he can make a successful transition to rugby.
“He [Lomax] had a lot of great touches,” Force coach Simon Cron said after the defeat of the Crusaders.
“He was brilliant in the air, scored a great try. He’s finding his feet, he’s so keen to learn.
“He adds a dominant voice in the back line. He’ll only get better.”
Zac Lomax (centre) can lean on the support of his Force teammates. (Getty Images: Janelle St Pierre)
When you combine Lomax’s professionalism with Cron’s coaching and the help of teammates such as Kurtley Beale, Dylan Pietsch and former All Black George Bridge, his rugby education has solid foundations.
The 10th-placed Force have five regular-season matches left for Lomax to continue his development, while there is a glimmer of hope they can reach the finals.
Wallabies management will have a better idea whether a Test call-up is achievable this year once the Force’s season comes to an end.
And before critics throw shade at the possibility Lomax could debut for the Wallabies this year, keep in mind ex-All Blacks tourist Matthew Ridge played his first rugby league Test for New Zealand only five matches after switching codes to join Manly in 1990.
Brumbies stumble at home
This column sang the praises of the ACT Brumbies last week after they posted a second win over a New Zealand opponent across the Tasman this season.
The Brumbies’ away form has been strong, but their home record sits at 2-3 (win-loss) following Saturday night’s shock 33-28 defeat to Fijian Drua.
Canberra Stadium has previously been described as the Brumbies’ fortress but that is no longer the case.
Tom Wright’s (left) return from injury was a rare Brumbies highlight. (Getty Images: Mark Nolan)
They were expected to bank a win over the Drua, with the visitors never having triumphed in Canberra while playing in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
In fact, the Drua had lost 14 straight matches in Australia before facing the Brumbies on the weekend.
But the Fijians pulled off a deserved victory, proving they were the better team on the night.
The Brumbies did show class at times during the upset defeat, such as the brilliant set-play that led to Corey Toole’s 70-minute try.
And a positive to take away was Tom Wright coming through unscathed in his first professional match since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the Wallabies’ Test against the Springboks in Cape Town last August.
The result sees the Brumbies sitting in fourth place on the standings with 25 points, trailing the Chiefs (31 points), Hurricanes (31) and Blues (29).
Waratahs ‘knocking on the door’
The VIPs were prominent in the stands as the NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika faced off at Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were in the house, while Australian rugby royalty — in the form of John Eales — was also present.
And adding drama to the occasion was a lengthy delay in the second half caused by lightning.
Those distractions did not steer the Waratahs off course, although possession turnovers nearly did.
They posted a gritty 29-14 bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika, who were playing only days after learning they are unlikely to appear in Super Rugby Pacific next year.
The victory followed a demoralising 42-14 defeat to the Chiefs in Hamilton a fortnight ago (they had the bye last round) and was their first “W” at home in two months.
Importantly, the result kept the Waratahs in the race for a finals berth, as they are two points outside the top six in seventh position on the standings.
Sid Harvey scored a double in the Waratahs’ win. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
“It [the win] keeps us in the hunt,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said after the match.
“We just have to keep knocking on the door.”
That door may never open for the Waratahs, however, as they finish the regular season with four matches — out of six — on the road.
The toughest of those will come on Friday night.
The Waratahs play the Crusaders, who will be christening their new 25,000-seat home ground in Christchurch when they host the opening match of Super Round.
It is already a sell-out, with the first public sale allocation exhausted in just minutes when they were released last October.
Moana’s fate all but sealed
Moana Pasifika’s imminent demise is unwelcome news, and it serves as another reminder of the financial precariousness Super Rugby Pacific teams face.
There is a remote chance New Zealand-based Moana can be saved if a buyer is found, although this appears unlikely.
The New Zealand government has already ruled out providing financial assistance.
Basing standalone teams in Samoa and Tonga — mirroring the Fijian Drua model — would be an ideal long-term plan but securing adequate government funding and private investment poses a significant challenge.
Should Moana be missing from Super Rugby Pacific next year, where will their players end up?
Moana Pasifika are set to depart Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the season. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw says it is “insensitive” to be discussing potential recruitment at this early stage, although New Zealand media has speculated on where Ardie Savea will land if he returns to the competition next year.
Savea had previously indicated he would reunite with Moana in 2027 after a one-year sabbatical with Japan’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
The New Zealand Herald reported the Blues may be the frontrunner to secure Savea’s services instead of his former team, the Hurricanes.
