Western Force Coach Simon Cron Reveals Gastro Outbreak Impacted Forwards in Fijian Drua Loss
Western Force coach Simon Cron has disclosed that a significant bout of gastro illness severely impacted player availability and strategic decisions, contributing to his team's narrow 24-22 defeat against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka. This loss has pushed the Force further behind in the Super Rugby Pacific finals race, with six games remaining and a ten-point gap to the sixth-placed Crusaders, whom they will host this Saturday.
Illness Forces Substitution Delays and Player Absences
Cron explained that the gastro outbreak among several forwards necessitated careful management of substitutions, directly affecting the debut of former NRL star Zac Lomax. "It was a bit of a juggling act at the end there, we had a couple of guys who were going down with a bit of gastro, so we were holding Zac a little bit longer than we would like to," Cron stated. He added that the team had planned to move a midfielder into the forwards if needed, delaying Lomax's introduction until the 20-minute mark of the second half.
Key player absences due to illness included lock Darcy Swain, who was not named for the match after being one of the Force's best in the previous week's win over the Reds. Social media content from the Force showed multiple players wearing face masks on the flight to Fiji, highlighting the health concerns. Additionally, flanker Jack Daly played only 20 minutes before being substituted for a head injury assessment and did not return.
Missed Opportunities Haunt Force in Close Contest
Despite the health setbacks, the Force will rue numerous missed chances that could have turned the game in their favor. Ben Donaldson, who entered the match with a 90 percent kicking accuracy, struggled from the tee, going 1-4 and missing a late penalty that flew wide. Kurtley Beale also failed to convert a crucial conversion from Will Harris' late try, which would have tied the game.
- The Force crossed the try-line on three separate occasions but failed to ground the ball.
- The Drua's decisive try in the 62nd minute came from an interception of a Beale pass by Isikeli Rabitu.
- In the final moments, after captain Jeremy Williams won a critical ruck penalty, Donaldson's line-out throw slipped through Franco Molina's hands, allowing the Fijians to end the game.
Cron emphasized the frustration in reviewing the match, saying, "The hardest part of reviewing the game will be the opportunities we created and didn't take. We were mauling over the line twice, and somehow we went individual and went to ground." He also pointed out issues with contestable kicks in the first half, where the Force failed to compete effectively, giving the Drua free ball.
Looking Ahead to Crucial Fixtures
As the Force prepare to face the Crusaders, Cron acknowledged the team's fighting spirit but stressed the need for better execution. "As the game went on, the boys fought back really well. There was a lot of fight in the team to get themselves back in that game, and we had the opportunity to win it, and we didn't execute," he concluded. With the finals race tightening, addressing these missed opportunities and managing player health will be critical for the Force's remaining campaign.
