Western Force coach Simon Cron was left frustrated after his team squandered a prime chance to secure an upset victory against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday. With the score at 24-22 in the dying moments of the match, the Force failed to execute an attacking lineout, allowing the Drua to kick to touch and extinguishing any hopes of a comeback. This misstep overshadowed Zac Lomax’s promising Super Rugby debut, where he made a solid impact after coming off the bench for 20 minutes, contributing to Will Harris’ try and causing a yellow card for Fijian winger Ilaisa Droasese.
Despite Lomax’s efforts, particularly in the aerial game, the Force struggled with goal-kicking. Veteran substitute Kurtley Beale missed a crucial conversion for Harris’ try, which could have levelled the score, and Ben Donaldson further compounded matters by missing a penalty attempt from 45 metres out. Lomax is noted for his kicking capabilities, which may be a consideration for future games as the Force seeks to improve their scoring options.
The defeat leaves the Force languishing at the bottom of the standings, with their chances of making the finals slim. Captain and try-scorer Jeremy Williams acknowledged the physical nature of the match, expressing pride in his team’s performance despite the loss. He highlighted the team’s execution in set-pieces, suggesting that had they capitalised on other opportunities, victory might have been within reach. While the game was entertaining, the captain lamented the missed chance, emphasising the pride he felt in the team’s preparation and effort.