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World Rankings: 9-year high within All Blacks' reach in Cape Town
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Ex-NRL star Zac Lomax set for maiden Force start against Crusaders
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Former NRL star Zac Lomax will start a Super Rugby Pacific match for the first time this weekend, with the Western Force also welcoming back three capped Wallabies to the run-on side to face the Crusaders at Perth’s HBF Park.
Lomax made a promising cameo off the bench in last weekend’s narrow defeat to the Fijian Drua, debuting for the Force after an injury setback the week before. The 26-year-old had some positive involvements at the breakdown and made one particularly memorable carry.
Coach Simon Cron has named Lomax on one edge, with Wallaby Dylan Pietsch and Australia A flyer Mac Grealy rounding out the outside backs trio. 19-Test All Black George Bridge returns to the midfield, linking up with utility Bayley Kuenzle.
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Henry Robertson retains the starting role at scrum-half ahead of Nathan Hastie, set to combine with team vice-captain Ben Donaldson once again. Cron has gone with a 5-3 split on the bench, with Hamish Stewart and Kurtley Beale also providing backline cover
The Force have welcomed a trio of capped Wallabies back into the run-on side. Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Carlo Tizzano return to the First XV after stints on the sidelines, while the likes of Franco Molina shift to the bench.
Robertson starts at loosehead prop, packing down alongside Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Misinale Epenisa up front. Force captain Jeremy Williams joins Swain in the second row, with Molina set to provide impact off the bench.
One-time Wallabies captain Nick Champion de Crespigny has been named at blindside flanker, with Tizzano returning to the fold at openside. France-bound Vaiolini Ekuasi rounds out the First XV as the No. 8.
The Force have confirmed winger Darby Lancaster has been ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season after suffering an ankle injury. Lancaster picked up the injury while scoring a try against the Queensland Reds earlier this month.
Western Force to take on Crusaders
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. Bayley Kuenzle
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. Hamish Stewart, 23. Kurtley Beale
