The Western Force have gone back-to-back against the Crusaders for a quality 31-26 win in Perth.
It keeps a pulse going on their finals hopes as the Crusaders' title defence takes a massive hit.
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So what did we learn?
Given their record at home in past seasons, it’s incredible to think this is the Force’s first win at home all season.
HBF Park is famed as a fortress for the Force, and it needs to be re-established to keep their finals hopes alive, given their run home.
At 19-0 down, they looked in big trouble but they never gave up and kept the pressure on the Crusaders.
They head into the bye with their tails up and their finals hopes more than alive.
The Crusaders are now in a perilous position in terms of their title defence.
Sitting sixth, the gap to the trailing back has disappeared after the NSW Waratahs and Fijian Drua nabbed wins.
They’ll face the Waratahs at Super Round, having to rebound with a quick turnaround and enormous pressure to perform to open their new stadium and Super Round.
It’s a must-win game given their finish to the season, with games against the Hurricanes (x2), Blues and Chiefs; the top three sides in the comp.
It’s tough to ignore how Zac Lomax could solve a massive issue for the Wallabies under the high ball.
The Force spammed it his way in the air, even going for an ambitious bomb inside the Crusaders’ 22 on half-time with four players on him.
He showed great hands for Henry Robertson’s try, combining nicely already with Dylan Pietsch before getting his own five-pointer after going over untouched to level the scores.
It was far from perfect, conceding some soft errors. But a sign of just how Lomax can fit into the wider picture with almost exactly 80 minutes of Rugby under his belt.
Carlo Tizzano picked his moment perfectly to strike and get the Force home.
Tizzano may not have the same stats as last year but the flanker is still quality over the ball. He copped the world-class treatment tonight with several cleaners honed in on him but when they weren’t there at the end, he struck to win the game for his side.
It was a typical bust night for the flanker with 14 tackles, two of which were try-savers early on, while Jeremy Williams put in a monster shift with 22 tackles.
The Crusaders have an embarrassment of riches in depth and quality outside backs.
Macca Springer is the type of winger that’d be starting in 90% of teams in European Rugby, yet is content with biding his time in the reserves and taking his chance when it comes.
Springer almost had the winner late, bursting away only to be denied by a knock-on in the build up.
Johnny McNicholl was also excellent, with the two combining for one of the tries of the year.
