For anyone who doubted the validity and purpose of this competition, the first round of Super Rugby AUS 2026 has certainly put all that to bed.
Bringing the masses to Bungendore to watch NSW Waratahs download the ACT Brumbies and having people watching the Wallabies play in rural New South Wales or for free on YouTube is a huge plus for rugby fans.
It must have felt the same watching Volaby flyhalf hopeful Tom Lynagh run into his first solid match all year at Ballymore for Queensland Red host to the western forces.
While the cohesion and flow of play left something to be desired over the weekend, it did highlight how much these players need game time.
If Australian rugby is to see faster improvements at senior levels, this next generation and level of players needs to play more rugby as a unit at senior levels; it’s that simple.
Now, while the results were against the Queenslanders at home as well as the Brums in Bungendore, there was plenty of talent for all fans over the weekend.
Where have all the tall men gone?
At Ballymore, Western Force they fielded a second row supported by regular back-rower Will Harris, while the Reds fielded the inexperienced duo of Charlie Brosnan and Will Ross.
The Reds are, of course, missing Wallaby duo Lukhan Salakaia-Lotto and Josh Canham, as well as recently departed Ser Ura, who has filled in for Super Rugby Pacific this year.
The Western Force waiting for a recruit and ex-Melbourne Rebels Trevor Hosea will recover from a knee injury sustained in the Shute Shield semi-final.
Down in Bungendore, Brumbies captain Toby McPherson and newly minted Wallaby Miles Amatosero were the only Super Rugby Pacific locks to feature in the competition, and it showed.
McPherson and Amatosero battled for nearly the entire 80 minutes, with both breaking arms in back-to-back efforts, making big tackles and organizing their teams; their standard was well and truly above the rest.
The Brumbies are without 32-game Wallaby Nick Frost due to a wedding and the Waratahs are without regular skipper Matt Philip through injury.
While the Waratahs and Brumbies have loads of decorated Shute Shield or John I Dent Cup players coming through the ranks, it’s clear that locks at Super Rugby Pacific level don’t grow on trees.
Hosea is a great signing for the Force, but they have just lost Wallabies Darcy Swain and Sam Carter, as well as Argentine Franco Molina in the off-season.
Ben Grant and Wallaby Angus Blyth have been released by the Waratahs.
The Reds lost a host of regular linebackers at the end of 2025, none more prominent than regular starter and tight end Ryan Smith.
Add Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas, Tom Staniforth, the Arnold brothers, Will Skelton, and they’re just the headliners.
This list is all to say that Australia honest, great, hard men have been bleeding for too long, and it must stop.
While the Force and Brums will have several backs in the coming weeks, it is clear that behind the current Wallaby contingent the ranks are thin.
The next generation of talent is making its mark
The backrow has always been a point of strength for Australian rugby and the results in Super Rugby AUS last weekend were no different.
Eli Langi at No.6 and Oscar Cleary at No.8 for the Brumbies, Marshall Le Maitre at No.7 and Justice Taumoepeau at No.6 for the Waratahs were hardworking, skilful and plenty physical.
No one hit harder than young Cleary that day, and few were as damaging as Langi and 18-year-old Taumoepeau with ball in hand.
Le Maitre was a hunter of the breakdown and regularly won his side of the ball.
Openside flanker Tom Robinson for Queensland continued his hot run of form since leading the U20 Wallabies in the Georgia earlier this year, and Josh Takai at No. 12 showed he can be a handful with the ball in hand.
Western Force No.8 Jackson Iose was abrasive and threw caution to the wind at the breakdown and Albert Alcock from the bench showed what time in the academy and the wider team had done for him physically; he converted for the match winner in overtime.
Destined future stars such as Wallace Charlie for the Force, Will McCulloch for the Reds and Brumbies openside flanker TJ Tlaileva will be given more time to show their wares after quiet performances.
Waratah winger Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong proved a slippery visitor in the No.14 jersey and Angus Grover showed he can bring service speed from the base as reserve halfback.
Seeing this next generation of talent take their strong club and academy form into this competition only confirms how important this competition is.
This comp needs to be expanded in one way or another
We’ve mentioned the fresh young couples who made their mark on the weekend’s games, but that’s only one side of the coin.
As mentioned above, getting Amatosero and McPherson big minutes in lieu of practice is vital to high performance.
While the youngsters put on a show, relatively experienced heads like Lington Iely, Liam Bouron and Rhys Van Nek put on a clinic in Scrum at Bungendore.
Tom Lambert had to show his poise and Ethan Dobbins got valuable minutes back from a mid-season injury.
The Brumbies backline, which was essentially a Super Rugby Pacific backline, needed a kick, clearly, and the likes of Max Burey, Teddy Wilson and Sid Harvey showed why they are at the next level.
Up at Ballymore, Zac Lomax made a long-awaited return from injury and played his first game at No.13, which, one way or another, was beneficial for the Force as well as the Wallaby selectors.
Boston Fakafonua at 12 and Ronan Leahy at 14 are two SRP youngsters who will need to really step up in the 2027 SRP, and have shown that a physical jump will be feasible now.
There were probably no more important minutes than those put in at half-time in Brisbane by Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Lynagh; both had decent matches without wowing the crowd.
Holding this competition is vital for up-and-coming players and full-back players; they are getting used to the speed, intensity and physicality of the next level.
The only downside is that the competition only has three weeks left, two more round robin games and a final; that is not enough playing time for these genuine Super Rugby Pacific players to turn down NPC or other appearances in the future.
Australian rugby needs the Lamberts, Van Neks, Amatoseros, HMP, Jarrah McLeods, Joe Brials, John Bryants, George Blakes, of the world to play rugby at a much higher level as they are the backbone of ongoing Super Rugby programs and without them improving and performing, Australian rugby will continue to suffer.
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