Western Force vs Chiefs: Cron Eyes Cutting Edge for Super Rugby Pacific Win

PERTH, Australia – The Western Force face a crucial Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Chiefs on Saturday at HBF Park, seeking to overcome a recurring pattern of fading within 20-minute stretches during matches. Head coach Simon Cron emphasized that a shift in mindset, rather than a lack of skill, is the key to securing a much-needed victory.

“It’s about sharpening our sword and making sure we get better and better every game,” Cron told reporters at the CD Dodd Coaches’ Conference on Friday. The Force have struggled with consistency this season, allowing opponents to regain momentum during key periods. Cron revealed the coaching staff has experimented with different approaches at halftime to address these mid-game slumps.

“It’s all about trust, belief and staying in the system. It all comes down to mindset, not skillset, understanding to trust the guy next to you, not giving away simple penalties,” he explained. “It will never be perfect, you are always going to have things that don’t go your way. It’s just about resetting and not stressing.”

The forecast for Saturday’s match calls for wet and windy conditions, adding another layer of complexity. Cron stressed the importance of secure ball handling, sound decision-making, and strategic kicking in these conditions. “We’re all on the same page about how to play. We just have to wait and see what it looks like,” he said, acknowledging the team has prepared for various scenarios.

Despite the Chiefs’ reputation for power in the forwards and speed in the backs, Cron remained confident in his team’s ability to compete. “They are powerful in the forwards and they have speed in the backs. They have some large bodies, we do too. We’ve got a little bit of firepower that we can get into it. For us it’s just another game of rugby. It’s about us playing our game.”

The Chiefs have made adjustments to their backline, with All Blacks star Damian McKenzie starting at full-back after playing fly-half throughout the season. Josh Jacomb will take over at fly-half, and Leroy Carter moves to outside centre. However, Cron believes these changes won’t significantly alter the challenge.

“They are still fast and skillful,” Cron stated. “The way we’ve prepped, guys in key positions are still there…won’t change too much.”

Veteran Kurtley Beale is set to make his 179th Super Rugby appearance, placing him seventh on the all-time list for Super Rugby caps. Cron praised Beale’s experience and leadership, saying, “You ride the wave with KB. The guys around him have confidence in him.”

The Force are also anticipating the potential debut of cross-code signing Zac Lomax in the coming weeks, with away games against the Reds and Fijian Drua following the Chiefs match. Lomax has been training with the team and is reportedly making progress in adapting to the nuances of rugby union.

“He’s a great chance in the next couple of weeks of getting game time,” Cron revealed. “He’s still learning a lot around the breakdown, kicking game, pendulum positional stuff, little bits of details, little things of the game. His footwork at the line and strength in contact is elite. It’s about building his load and making sure when he’s released, he’s ready to go. It’s about him getting confident and then us getting in a position where ideally we’re not going to injure him.”

For Saturday’s match, the Force have made one change to the starting lineup, with No. 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi returning from a quad contusion. Nick Champion de Crespigny will shift to blindside flanker to accommodate Ekuasi’s return. The bench sees the inclusion of Argentine hooker Leonel Oviedo, Tongan tighthead prop Misinale Epenisa, and utility back Divad Palu.

The match has been designated a “Grass Roots Game,” recognizing the contribution of local rugby clubs. RugbyWA club members are eligible for a 30% discount on tickets, and Gilbert Rugby vouchers worth $8,000 will be awarded to the three most represented clubs. The reigning Fortescue Premier Grade men’s and women’s champions, Wanneroo, will be honored with a lap of honor at halftime, and representatives from all RugbyWA clubs will form a guard of honor for the starting players.

Western Force starting side: 1 Tom Robertson, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 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 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Kurtley Beale, 13 George Bridge, 14 Darby Lancaster, 15 Max Burey.

Reserves: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Divad Palu.

Chiefs starting side: 1 Jared Proffit, 2 Brodie McAlister, 3 George Dyer, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6 Samipeni Finau, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 8 Simon Parker, 9 Xavier Roe, 10 Josh Jacomb, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12 Quinn Tuapea, 13 Leroy Carter, 14 Emoni Narawa, 15 Damian McKenzie.

Reserves: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.

Game details

Western Force vs Chiefs

Saturday 28 March, 4:35pm WST

HBF Park, Perth

Live on Stan Sport (TV) & 91.3 SportFM (radio)