Cron: We need to make sure we shut down teams like that

Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 10:40 AM
NT
by Nick Taylor

Western Force coach Simon Cron says bringing back the cavalry will stabilise the side for Sunday's SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 6 clash with the Fijian Drua at HBF Park.

Cron made big changes ahead of Saturday's 55-33 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.

He was without winger Dylan Pietsch with an MCL injury and back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny, ruled out under HIA protocol.

But he was also managing Test quartet Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Hamish Stewart and Carlo Tizzano under Rugby Australia protocols for potential Test players not playing six consecutive games.

Cron, who can expect the return of most of his missing players, told reporters post-game: "Obviously next week there's a few guys that will come back into the squad.

"That will probably stabilise us a little bit."

He said he had learnt a lot about some of the players brought in, including local product, flanker Kane Koteka making his first appearance in 1,050 days, and fly-half Coby Miln who made his debut from the bench.

Cron also used a new starting 9, 10, 12 combination in Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey and Reesjan Pasitoa.

"It was a guideline of six games and we've played four already so I've got to make a decision on when I pull the trigger," Cron said.

"It was also really important we learn about some of these guys that went out there. And we did.

"We learnt where we can help them with some skills.

"Some of those guys went really well so it's understanding when we can use them, how we can use them moving forward, which is really important."

Cron said he would be looking for an improvement at the breakdown for next week's game against the Drua (kick-off 2.05pm and live on Stan Sport).

"We weren't turning the ball," he said. "We didn't get on the ball a whole lot so therefore we just had defensive set, defensive set, defensive set.

"We've got to make sure we put pressure on the breakdown.

"The big thing for us is making sure we can stop teams like that (Crusaders) and making sure we shut them down."

He also identified one-on-one tackles and exit kicking that put them under pressure as areas for improvement.

"We can fix those," he said.

The Force were 20-18 down at the break before the Crusaders went on a 35-point scoring spree.

The home side scored nine tries, five to winger Macca Springer, a hat-trick to fellow winger Sevu Reece, with full-back Will Jordan soring the last five-pointer.

The Force crossed four times through full-back Mac Grealy, flanker Will Harris, captain Jeremy Williams and winger Harry Potter. Fly-half Max Burey kicked 11 points, reserve Coby Miln a conversion.

Cron was relatively pleased with the first-half but was not happy how they leaked a couple of five-pointers.

"I thought first-half we were really good in the middle of the field defensively," he said. "I still felt in that first-half we let a couple of easy tries in.

"We missed a tackle down the left edge and they went all the way. I felt like we were working really hard for our tries.

"However, start of the second-half, their back three started to open us up and again, just missing a couple of tackles a couple of key moments where we had to control the speed of their ruck.

"And the Crusaders did what they did. We knew coming into the game they have an amazing back three."

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