Zac Lomax's Force 'blow the playoff race wide open' as veteran's clutch play sinks Queensland in Perth
Updated . First published at
The Western Force kept their slim Super Rugby finals hopes alive with a gritty 19-14 win over the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
Flanker Carlo Tizzano scored two tries for the home team in Perth while Kurtley Beale stopped a 79th-minute Reds attack with a clutch strip turnover to seal the victory at HBF Park.
"What a huge moment. He's got that in his game, the strip. He's done it before," Michael Hooper said on Stan Sport.
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Isaac Henry of the Reds is tackled by Carlo Tizzano and Kurtley Beale of the Force. Getty
The win saw the Force (5-7) leapfrog the Fijian Drua into ninth on the ladder while the Reds (6-6) remain sixth with two rounds to play.
The top six teams qualify for the finals.
"The Western Force blow the playoff race wide open," commentator Sean Maloney said on Stan Sport.
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"They are very much alive in the hunt for a finals spot. Wow."
It was 37-year-old super-sub Beale's 185th Super Rugby cap, taking him equal with Aaron Smith for third most in competition history.
Only props James Slipper (210) and Wyatt Crockett (202) have more.
"I didn't realise that but I'm really enjoying my rugby," Beale told Stan Sport.
"The Western Force are an amazing club, great organisation, and a great bunch of lads here to play with. Love it."
The Force host the Drua next weekend and are five points off the playoff pace.
Kurtley Beale of the Force passes the ball. Getty
"We owe each other, we owe our fans, strong performances to finish off the season on a positive note," Beale said.
"If a bit of luck swings our way then we'll take it."
Force winger Zac Lomax carried 14 times for 49 metres and chipped in with two offloads.
Zac Lomax of the Force catches the ball during the round 14 Super Rugby match. Getty
Mac Grealy's try also came from picking up the scraps of a Lomax aerial contest.
"Jeez, we made that look hard," Lomax told Stan Sport.
"Not that I know too much rugby union but yeah, we made that look pretty hard. It's good that we got the win.
"We needed that win and it was definitely scrappy but we got it done."
The 26-year-old former NRL star has made a strong start to his new code.
"It's just trying to find ways to get yourself involved in the game as much as I can," Lomax said.
"I'm learning and that's the thing that I love about it. I'm loving it and they're a great bunch of boys."
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt gave his verdict on Lomax's progress before kick-off.
"He's got things to work on, obviously," Schmidt told Stan Sport.
Zac Lomax of the Force warms up before the round 14 Super Rugby match. Getty
"There is a little bit of crossover (from league) that's immediately available, like that aerial game that he brings. He's a big, strong athlete. That's always nice to have on the edges.
"If anything, Dylan Pietsch has been saying, 'Well, don't forget about me'. He's been going really well himself and I think Zac - that is a bit of a system thing, just getting defensively aligned and getting organised.
"I tell you, when he's up and running, he's pretty impressive."
The loss leaves the sixth-placed Reds (27 points) in a tight five-way tussle for positions No.4, No.5 and No.6 into the finals with the fourth-placed Crusaders (32), ACT Brumbies (29), NSW Waratahs (25) and Force (22).
"It's very disappointing. We had plenty of chances and didn't capitalise," Reds captain Harry Wilson said.
"We got in their A-zone a few times and not being able to complete (plays) there definitely hurt us."
