Western Force coach Simon Cron has named an unchanged squad for the first time this season for Friday’s Round 12 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash against the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.
And Cron hinted springing a surprise move for star signing Zac Lomax who is named on the right wing but could move into outside-centre.
He said Lomax was still settling into rugby after his code switch but told reporters at Wednesday's CD Dodd Coaches’ Conference: "We've been working on Zac at 13 as well as wing and just trying to work it, different positions, but that's really the only one we're looking at the moment.
"For us it's about looking at, can he attack at 13 and defend on the wing? Or defend at 13 and attack on the wing?
"Just a little bit of a play around. There's different ways in which we can get him involved.
"He's got an amazing skillset, he loves getting his hands on the ball and we'll just do what we can to make that happen.
"Bridgey (outside centre George Bridge) obviously can cover the wing too."
Cron said he was happy to have squad cohesion for the Australian derby (kick- off 5:35pm WST, live on Stan Sport and 91.3 SportFM).
The only change within the match day squad that beat the Crusaders 31-26 two weeks ago is Hamish Stewart, in his 50th Force appearance, starting at inside centre, swapping his bench spot with Bayley Kuenzle.
Cron described both Stewart and Kuenzle as similar players.
"Hamish and BK have been great for us," he said.
"BK has played a lot of rugby in a year coming back from injury.
"Hamish has trained really well. He's been really direct and doing what we needed him to do."
Cron said it was a privilege to coach Stewart, who has missed only two games since joining the Force prior to the 2023 season.
"He's an amazing person," he said. "He has worked his butt off to get to where he has got to being a Wallaby.
"As a guy within our squad he's a big leader. He leads by doing, he doesn't talk a whole lot. Sometimes he just does.
"He's tough and it's a privilege to coach him. We're really lucky to have him in our squad.
"I'm excited by the fact that it's his 50th this week. We'll celebrate that a lot during the week and excited to get him out on the field."
Cron said having the week off with a bye was good timing.
"A few of the boys were a bit sore and they look a lot fresher now," he said. "We were lucky to train Saturday, Sunday and get a seven-day turnaround.
"We haven't had a seven-day turnaround since the Chiefs (round six) so you can definitely get more into them and train really well."
If Kurtley Beale comes from the bench it will bring up his 183rd Super Rugby cap, moving into outright fourth on the all-time list ahead of Liam Messam.
Western Force starting side: 1 Tom Robertson, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 5 Darcy Swain, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9 Henry Robertson, 10 Ben Donaldson (vc), 11 Dylan Pietsch, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 George Bridge, 14 Zac Lomax, 15 Mac Grealy.
Reserves: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Game details
NSW Waratahs vs Western Force
Friday 1 May, 5:35pm WST
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live on Stan Sport (TV) & 91.3 SportFM (radio)
