Western Force coach Simon Cron has indicated that the team is considering a positional shift for Zac Lomax, utilising his attacking versatility in midfield as they prepare to face the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Season on the Line
With their Super Rugby Pacific season hanging in the balance, the Force are targeting three wins from their remaining four games. A loss could leave them 12 points adrift of the top six, but a bonus-point victory over the Waratahs would see them draw level with their opponents.
Fresh from a dramatic comeback win over the Crusaders, the Force have made just one change for the Sydney clash. Bayley Kuenzle drops to the bench, while Hamish Stewart starts at inside centre for his 50th appearance for the club.
Lomax's Versatility
Lomax, an NRL Origin representative turned rugby convert, has been named on the right wing again, outside former All Black George Bridge. However, Cron admitted the coaching staff have weighed up running the big-bodied aerial threat through midfield at outside centre.
"We've been working on Zac at 13 as well as wing and just trying to work at different positions, but that's really the only one we're looking at at the moment," Cron said.
"For us, it's about looking at, can he attack at 13 and defend on the wing, or defend at 13 and attack on the wing? There's different ways in which we can get him involved.
"He's got an amazing skill set, he loves to get his hands on the ball, we'll just do what we can to help that happen."
Stewart's Milestone
Cron expressed his delight at Stewart reaching the half-century mark for the Force, calling it a reward for his consistency.
"Hamish and BK (Kuenzle) have been great for us and BK has played a lot of rugby in a year coming back from injury," he said.
"Hamish has trained really well, he's been really direct and doing what we need him to do.
"He's an amazing person. He has worked his butt off to get to where he's got to, being a Wallaby, and as a guy within our squad, he's a big leader.
"He leads by doing — he doesn't talk a whole lot, sometimes he just does. He's tough and it's a privilege to coach him."
Waratahs Without Botha
The Waratahs will be without tighthead prop Daniel Botha, who was suspended for two games for dangerous play in a ruck against the Crusaders last week.
Teams
Western Force XV vs Waratahs
Friday, Allianz Stadium, 5.35pm WST
Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa
Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain
Nick Champion de Crespigny, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Carlo Tizzano
Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson
Hamish Stewart, George Bridge
Dylan Pietsch, Mac Grealy, Zac Lomax
Substitutes: Nic Dolly, Sef Fa'agase, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Nathan Hastie, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale.
