Cross-code recruit’s early signs compare well to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Israel Folau

Few could have foreseen that omitting the Western Force would dampen the Super Round weekend in Christchurch next week, but that’s how it has turned out.

Cross-code recruit Zac Lomax has stardust, and the simultaneous return of Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch has turned the Force into one of the competition’s most watchable teams in recent weeks.

The pair combined superbly in the Force’s upset-but-not-really-an-upset win against the Crusaders in Perth on Saturday, with lineout monster Jeremy Williams all over the visitors’ work at the set piece.

Lomax wasn’t perfect against the Crusaders, but on his starting debut, he provided more evidence of his extraordinary aerial ability, and he appears to have fitted in seamlessly at the Force. To my eyes, Lomax has looked more comfortable in his early days of rugby than either Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii or Israel Folau did before him.

He was replaced after 59 minutes – presumably as load management – but he left everyone wanting more, and even the Crusaders players looked happy to be sharing the contest with him.

There will be bumps in the road, but Lomax’s mid-season entry into rugby has been exemplary.

The big change in Ben Donaldson

The Force got a favourable call in the 62nd minute when the outstanding Pietsch was awarded a try, despite appearing to lose the ball over the line, but they deserved their 31-26 victory.

One of the keys to their victory was the No.9-No.10 combination between Henry Robertson (surely on the Wallabies’ radar) and Ben Donaldson.

One criticism levelled at Donaldson is that he starts seasons on fire and then tails off, but he’s switched up that trajectory this season.

As Declan Meredith of the Brumbies has found the going tougher as the season progresses, Donaldson looks more authoritative and capable of setting up plays by taking on the line.

It’s been a frustrating season for the Force. Given their squad, they should be closer to the top six than they are.

However, based on their current form, they are capable of making a mess of other teams’ ambitions. After being locked out of Super Round, they’ll be determined to make a point against the Waratahs in Sydney in two weeks.

Walton delivers for the Waratahs

The Waratahs were on a hiding to nothing against Moana Pasifika on Friday. Moana Pasifika have handled the news of their likely exit from Super Rugby with grace, and most fans would have cheered them on.

They delivered an emotional and physical performance that asked plenty of questions of the Waratahs, but NSW did enough to get the job done in a professional performance in tough weather conditions. As often happens in games such as this, Waratahs midfielder Joey Walton was at the heart of most of the tough stuff.

Even late in the game, with the outcome still in the balance, Walton was putting his body in harm’s way in front of heavy Moana Pasifika ball carriers. That spirit is infectious, and the Waratahs’ ability to hold up Moana Pasifka No.8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa over the line in the 75th would have given coach Dan McKellar a lot of satisfaction.

That resolve – and the Crusaders’ current wobbles – gives the Waratahs a fighting chance of spoiling the Crusaders’ party when the two sides meet at the new Christchurch stadium on Friday. The Crusaders are missing a lot of heavy hitters – they don’t look like the same side without injured All Blacks fullback Will Jordan.

Inexperience in the Brumbies machine

When the Brumbies scored a beautifully constructed try through Corey Toole in the 69th minute against the Fijian Drua on Saturday, you would have bet on them completing a trademark comeback win.

You could watch that Toole try all day. It was a clever variation on a standard attacking shape that saw the flying winger hit the ball at top speed as the Drua defenders were fixed on other options at the line.

But the Brumbies couldn’t complete the job, falling to a costly 33-28 loss. It was uncharacteristic because the Brumbies usually excel in these situations, but we must allow this current side some leeway due to inexperience.

Players such as Lachlan Shaw, Kadin Pritchard, and Toby MacPherson are all young; in the last 10 minutes, there was a pushed pass here and a needless penalty there. The Drua deserve enormous credit for holding on, but the loss will be part of a steep learning curve for the younger Brumbies.

Force, Drua provide a welcome jolt

The top six teams on the ladder remain the top six that have largely dominated Super Rugby Pacific, but the wins by the Force and Drua have at least created the possibility that someone else could force their way into the playoffs.

Mathematically, the Waratahs are the most likely team to do so, and the game against the sixth-placed Crusaders next Friday now takes on added importance. The Waratahs also play the Western Force twice in the final six rounds, and also a daunting trip to Suva to play the Drua; therefore, they will likely need other results to go their way.

However, after a week in which the competition was heavily criticised – former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry branded it “weak” – the Force and Drua victories were the sort of results Super Rugby Pacific desperately needs.

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