Simon Cron wasn’t across all the boxes that had been ticked, milestone-wise, after his Western Force side downed the Brumbies on Saturday night in Canberra.
Most coaches would have said something similar, with varying degrees of believability. But considering the level of singular-focus intensity with which Cron operates, you’d buy it.
For record, the Force’s 45-42 win at GIO Stadium was the first time the WA side has ever started a Super Rugby season with back-to-back wins, it was their first victory in Canberra since 2011, and it was also the Force’s first win on the road since May, 2022. Since then, they’d suffered 14 losses away from Perth.
In short, it was a hugely significant victory for the Force, who need such wins more than most to keep feeding the “virtuous circle” necessary for the club to contend for silverware.
There is the obvious boost to internal confidence and belief levels, but the win does plenty externally as well. For much of their history, the Force have struggled to attract enough quality players to build sufficient depth and success. Since 2006, the Force have never played in the finals of a full Super Rugby competition.
Recruitment has been therefore been a focus of Cron since he took over the Force in 2023, but it takes more than signing a current Wallaby or two. Aspirational players want to know they can play finals, and develop in a program that can help them become – or remain – a Test player.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa lays on the pass for Dylan Pietsch’s second try.Credit: Getty Images
The virtuous circle is that all those parts feed into each other: the better you play, the more Wallabies you produce, and the more Wallabies you send away, the more you keep improving after they return. With more Test players and more success, the more attractive your club becomes to recruits and, with more competitive depth, the better you train and play. Rinse and repeat.
“That squad list has been a big drive for the last two seasons,” Cron said on Sunday.
“We want to bring in people who the right type of fit for the culture and our standards and expectations, and guys who will drive that. Getting guys who want to come to Perth and who are at a high standard, obviously. Getting the program to attract talent, and player word of mouth is probably what helps that.”
Jeremy Williams has been a powerhouse for the Force this season.Credit: Getty Images
Force players have duly been doing the quiet sales pitch to mates coming off contract on the eastern seaboard, or overseas. We are building something. But tough road wins like Saturday’s do an enormous amount of heavy lifting in terms of proving the Force’s bona fides.
The Force raced out to a big early lead at GIO Stadium, before being hauled in by the hosts. Usually in these situations, it’s the ruthless Brumbies who then close out with efficiency. But on Saturday, the 13-man Force came from behind to win.
Bench hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa scored the winner, having laid on a try earlier. BPA was one of a number who contributed heavily to the Force win who fell in one (or both) of two categories: new recruits and/or new Wallabies.
Along with newish starting halves Nic White and Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Jeremy Williams, Hamish Stewart and Carlo Tizzano were all prominent, and the latter five all earned Test debuts Wallabies last year. Pietsch scored twice, Potter got one and assisted another, and Tizzano also scored. The flanker also made a whopping 34 tackles, with zero misses.
Joe Schmidt raised eyebrows by handing out 19 Wallabies debuts last year – the most since 1904 – and it has led, almost comically, to all Super Rugby teams now marketing themselves with “ten-plus Wallabies”, or “Wallabies on the bench”.
But the benefit of that exposure for the debut class of 2024, via confidence and the coaching environment of Schmidt and his staff, has also been evident in the opening two rounds of Super Rugby for Aussie sides.
Tom Lynagh tries to stop a try for the Reds against Moana Pasifika.Credit: Getty Images
“They definitely grow from the experience,” Cron said. “Obviously, Joe and the coaching staff there, they were outstanding. More rugby is good rugby and getting rugby at a higher level definitely allows them to get a better understanding in big moments. Having some exposure to that environment is critical for us.
“Our whole job is to create Wallabies and get them to a stage when Joe picks them that they are successful in his environment. We have a few more we want to try and get to that level.”
Last year in Canberra, the Force also raced out to a lead, only to surrender it.
“We just didn’t have the bench coverage to stay in the fight, and we lost by three or something,” Cron said. “This year, the guys that came off the bench had a big impact and allowed us to keep kicking. That’s a step forward for us.”
