Former NRL star Zac Lomax set for Western Force debut against Reds

Former NRL star Zac Lomax is in line to debut for the Western Force this weekend in a crunch Super Rugby Pacific derby against the Queensland Reds. Lomax has been named on the bench, as one of two potential debutants in the 23.

Lomax made the headline-grabbing move over to the 15-player game last month, signing a two-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Force. The outside back played for the St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels in the NRL and was selected for representative honours.

As Reds rake Matt Faessler said this week, “I’m sure [Lomax] is no stranger to a hostile Suncorp crowd.” Lomax made six State of Origin appearances for New South Wales and played a few international rugby league for the Australia Kangaroos.

Lomax will wear the No. 23 jersey, while Irish openside flanker Jack Daly has been named to start, with Wallaby Carlo Tizzano out for the medium term with a knee injury. Daly joins captain Nick Champion de Crespigny and France-bound Vaiolini Ekuasi in the loose forwards.

Wallabies Tom Robertson and Brandon Paenga Amosa will start in the front row, joining tighthead prop Misinale Epenisa at the top of the team sheet. Los Pumas enforcer Franco Molina will pack down alongside Wallaby Darcy Swain, with usual skipper Jeremy Williams unavailable.

Henry Robertson starts at scrum-half, linking up with in-form playmaker Ben Donaldson. Bayley Kuenzle joins former All Blacks winger George Bridge in the midfield, while 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale shifts to the bench.

Wallabies Darby Lancaster and Dylan Pietsch will line up on a wing each, while Australia A representative Mac Grealy slots in at fullback. Lomax is among the big-name players selected on the bench, with many eager to see how the former NRL star will fare in rugby union.

The Force are looking to win their first match since late February, which came against Moana Pasifika in New Zealand. They fought in a closely-contested battle with the Chiefs last time out in Perth but fell 21-14 in a thriller.

As for the Reds, they’re looking to return to winning ways as well, having lost to the ladder-leading Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend. This round eight fixture at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will kick off at 4:35 pm WST on Saturday.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

30

24

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

60%

Western Force team to take on Queensland Reds

1. Tom Robertson

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Misinale Epenisa

4. Franco Molina

5. Darcy Swain

6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (c)

7. Jack Daly

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi

9. Henry Robertson

10. Ben Donaldson (vc)

11. Darby Lancaster

12. Bayley Kuenzle

13. George Bridge

14. Dylan Pietsch

15. Mac Grealy

Reserves: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Sef Fa’agase, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Lopeti Faifua, 20. Will Harris, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Zac Lomax