Western Force head coach Simon Cron has no doubt the belief remains within the group as they gun for a late-season Super Rugby Pacific finals push starting with Saturday’s clash with the Fijian Drua.
With four rounds to go, the Force take on the eighth-placed Drua this Saturday from 7:55pm at HBF Park.
The Force may have a 2-8 record but are only seven points outside the top eight and have the belief they’re still in the finals hunt with three of four remaining games to come at home.
“There’s no doubts about that (belief),” Cron told reporters on Thursday after training. “A couple of these guys, we can’t get them off the (training) field.
“There’s belief. The Reds’ game, the Brumbies’ game, the Crusaders’ game are all good examples of what we can do, we’ve just got to put it together for 85.”
Cron won’t let the players get ahead of themselves with the upcoming fixtures, but fans will know the Force also face the 11th-placed NSW Waratahs in Round 13, offering another opportunity to take points off another side around them on the ladder to boost their top-eight bid.
“Every game is a final,” Cron said about the upcoming fixture. “Great players want to step forward, great players step up in those games. So that’s what we’re talking about.”
The Force will be boosted by the starting returns of Wallabies duo Nic White and Izack Rodda this Saturday, with Cron enthused by the leadership they bring.
“It’s good have Whitey back in from a leadership point of view,” he said. “Really good leader on the park.
“Izack gets an opportunity to put his chest out and lead us forward. His chance to lead the team a bit. I challenge him on that this week and he’s keen for it.
“It’s also about the guys around him stepping up and taking ownership around their roles and one of those has to be contact zone.”
Contact zone has been a big topic of focus this week for Cron’s men, with the head coach pinpointing that as the reason behind heavy losses away to the Chiefs last week, as well as the Blues last month.
“That’s an area we’ve got to win,” Cron said, noting the Drua will be strong in the contact zone.
He added: “They’ll come hard, they’ve got some speedsters at 13, 9 and 14. They’ve got a lot of good ball players.
“They’ll play Fiji ball, a lot of offloads. We’ve got a good idea of what’s coming, now it’s about what we do.”
On the team line-up, Cron explained the decision to move Sam Spink to the reserves, with George Poolman coming into the XV on the wing and Bayley Kuenzle reverting to outside-centre.
“I think Bayley has been defending really well,” Cron said. “He’s one of our best defenders, he’s got a bit of speed.
“I think it’s critical to give him an opportunity at 13 and give Spinky a chance to come off that bench and maybe do a few things that he’s been working on. He is a big body, he’s a strong guy. Good opportunity for him.”
Cron also noted the Club debut of front-rower Harry Hoopert, who hasn’t played at Super Rugby level since 2022, with the ex-Reds man missing the 2023 season with an ACL injury before suffering a knee injury in 2024 pre-season.
“It’s exciting for Harry,” Cron said. “He’s a good man, he’s been working hard.
“That injury unfortunately in the pre-season for him sometimes happens when you’re coming back from major injuries.
“He’s taken his time, but he’s built back up and gets the chance this week to put on the Force jersey.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 7:55pm, with the curtain-raiser being the WA Championship Grade clash between the Mandurah Pirates and Bunbury Barbarians from 5:25pm. Gate 1 opens at 5:10pm for the curtain-raiser.
Tickets are available for the game via Ticketmaster, along with the Force’s Flexi Membership, with four tickets to any of the remaining three games for only $75.
