No Zac Lomax as Force make one change to starting side for Chiefs

Coach Simon Cron has made just the one change to the Western Force starting side ahead of this weekend’s round seven clash with the Chiefs in Perth, with backrower Vaiolini Ekuasi returning in a star-studded backrow.

Ekuasi s back after a quad contusion, set to combine with flankers Nick Champion de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano in the First XV. The 24-year-old started the season at blindside flanker before making three consecutive appearances at No. 8.

Tom Robertson joins Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Harry Johnson-Holmes in the front-row, while two Wallabies make up the lock pairing. Captain Jeremy Williams will pack down alongside France-bound Darcy Swain.

Fans will have to wait a bit longer to see former NRL star Zac Lomax debut for the Force, with the coaching staff opting to give the marquee recruit more time. Lomax began training with the Force earlier this week.

Henry Robertson retains the starting spot at scrum-half, set to join Ben Donaldson in the halves. 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale will form a headline-grabbing combination with former All Black George Bridge in the centres.

Bayley Kuenzle holds onto a starting spot on the left wing, with capped Wallaby Darby Lancaster lining up on the right. Max Burey rounds out the First XV as the first-choice fullback, with Divad Palu providing outside backs cover off the bench.

The Force defeated Moana Pasifika 35-19 on February 27 but are now looking to snap a two-game losing streak, which dates back before their round six bye. This will be their first match at home since February 21 when they hosted the Blues in Joondalup.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

5

Average Points scored

18

46

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

Western Force to take on Chiefs

1. Tom Robertson (Kalamunda)

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Kalamunda)

3. Harry Johnson-Holmes (Palmyra)

4. Jeremy Williams (c) (Joondalup Brothers)

5. Darcy Swain (Associates)

6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc) (Cottesloe)

7. Carlo Tizzano (UWA)

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi (Kalamunda)

9. Henry Robertson (Wests Scarborough)

10. Ben Donaldson (vc) (Southern Lions)

11. Bayley Kuenzle (Associates)

12. Kurtley Beale (UWA)

13. George Bridge (Palmyra)

14. Darby Lancaster (Nedlands)

15. Max Burey (Wests Scarborough)

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo (Joondalup Brothers), 17 Sef Fa’agase (Wests Scarborough), 18 Misinale Epenisa (Southern Lions), 19 Lopeti Faifua (Southern Lions), 20 Will Harris (Joondalup Brothers), 21 Nathan Hastie (Wanneroo), 22 Hamish Stewart (UWA), 23 Divad Palu (Nedlands)