As the Western Force gear up to celebrate their 20th anniversary, Head Coach Simon Cron has issued a rallying cry to his squad: “Bite your mouthguard and go to work.” This directive comes as the Force prepare to face Moana Pasifika in their Super Rugby Pacific season opener at HBF Park this Saturday at 4:35 pm WST.
Emphasizing the importance of attitude, Cron stated, “The attitude for us is a second to no-one approach. There’s a level of humility in what you’re trying to do, but when you get on the field, you’ve got to bite your mouthguard and go to work.”
The match will see nine players making their debut for the Force, including Nic Dolly, Nick Champion de Crespigny, and Divad Palu, who are set for their first Super Rugby Pacific appearances. Cron, now in his third year at the helm with a refreshed squad, acknowledged the typical pre-season nerves but remains focused on performance and growth.
“You’re always a little bit nervous at the start of each season,” Cron admitted. “What do people who watch us want? Great performances—consistent, good to great performances. The group we have now is tight-knit; they want to fight for each other.”
Despite setbacks, such as season-ending ACL injuries to front-rowers Harry Hoopert and Harry Johnson-Holmes, Cron believes the team is in a stronger position than last year. “We’ve had more of our squad here in pre-season,” he noted. “This year, we’ve been fortunate to bring in players who add depth in training. Even with injuries, we have the next cab off the rank.”
One notable debutant is prop Atu Moli, making his long-awaited first appearance after overcoming injury challenges, including hip surgery mid-last year. “It’s an awesome story,” Cron said. “Atu came with some injuries and has worked his way back, worked very hard. He’s a big part of our team; we love him in our environment, and we’re excited to see him get on that field.”
Looking ahead to the clash with Moana Pasifika, Cron highlighted the formidable presence of All Blacks back-rower Ardie Savea, who will lead the opposition on debut. However, Cron stressed the need to focus on the entire team. “The whole team is strong, powerful. We’ve just got to play the way we want to play and make sure they don’t take the game to us.”
Read more: https://westernforce.rugby/news/force-simon-cron-cd-dodd-conference-2025214
