Lomax luck spearheading Force’s form: Swain
Sebastian Tan
Lock Darcy Swain says Zac Lomax has given a second wind to the Western Force as they look to continue their Super Rugby Pacific resurgence.
The Power’s finals hopes were on life support when Lomax made his debut against Fijian Drua on 11 April.
But since then, the Perth-based team’s fortunes have turned around and they have moved closer to the top six with two straight wins against the Waratahs and fifth-placed Crusaders.
Ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash against the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Swain hopes Lomax’s luck doesn’t run out.
Asked if the former NRL star’s presence had rekindled him, Lock said: “Yes.
“He’s brought a lot to the group. Obviously he’s very athletic and we need to put the ball in his hands a little more and let him do his job,” Swain said.
“He’s keeping up with the pace and still learning, and a lot of the older guys like Ben Donaldson and Kurtley Beale are bringing him along.
“It’s great to have him there. You just throw a kick and you know he’s going to catch it or return it.”
Swain is also confident Lomax will make an impact on the field as he prepares for his 100th Super Rugby match.
It’s a bittersweet moment for the 28-year-old, who made 76 appearances for the Brumbies before leaving last season.
But had it not been for a virus, Lock might have celebrated his landmark match elsewhere.
“I was all kinds of crooked when I was about to go to Fiji. I had flu B and couldn’t move,” Swain said.
“But when I realized a few games ago that he was going to be here, it was a really good feeling.”
His good friend and former team-mate Ryan Lonergan will look to spoil his success as the Brumbies aim to cement their place in the top six.
Lonergan, who created unwanted history by losing his third consecutive game for the first time since the final round of 2018, admitted he was worried about losing the finals as the Brumbies slipped to sixth place.
But the skipper remains optimistic heading into Saturday, knowing his side will be strengthened with Wallaby Allan Alaalatoa returning from concussion.
“It’s time for us to get back into shape and start performing so we can get ready for the rest of the season,” Lonergan said.
“We are on an upward trend and we need to make sure we continue to get results.”
AAP
