Zac Lomax starts as Western Force stick with same 23 that beat Crusaders

Zac Lomax will face former State of Origin teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in a Super Rugby Pacific blockbuster this week in Sydney, with the Western Force retaining the same 23-man squad that defeated the Crusaders a fortnight ago.

Lomax will line up on the right wing, linking up with Wallaby Dylan Pietsch and Australian A flyer Mac Grealy in the back three. Former All Black George Bridge has been named at outside centre, joining milestone man Hamish Stewart in the midfield.

This will be Stewart’s 50^th appearance for the Force, which follows an impressive stint on the east coast with the Queensland Reds. Stewart and Bridge start, while Bayley Kuenzle and Kurtley Beale can both provide centre cover on the bench.

It’s an intriguing midfield matchup this week, with the NSW Waratahs announcing the return of Joseph-Aukusi Suaalii from injury. Suaalii was injured in the warm-up before the Waratahs played the Hurricanes last month, missing most of the season.

Henry Robertson, who has just re-signed with the Force until 2028, combines with Wallabies pivot Ben Donaldson in the halves. Former Highlanders No. 9 Nathan Hastie will again come off the bench, with the Force going with a 5-3 split.

Tom Robertson joins Brandon Paenaga-Amosa and Misinale Epenisa in the front-row, while Force captain Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain complete the tight five. Coach Simon Cron has named Nick Champion de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano on the flanks, with Vaiolini Ekuasi at No. 8.

The Force sit second-last on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder and have five matches left to make a playoff run. They face the Waratahs and ACT brumbies away before returning home, rounding out the season with three matches out west.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Waratahs

17 - 20

Full-time

Force

All Stats and Data

Western Force to take on NSW Waratahs

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