Aussie Super Rugby takes: Maturing Waratahs, Brumbies defy expectations

Super Rugby Pacific round 1 is in the history books, and what a round of games to kick it all off for 2026. 

It was a round littered with upsets, and it began in the very first game where the Highlanders dusted up the Crusaders by two points, as it was 30 years ago, in the inaugural season of Super Rugby.  

Then, across the Pacific Ocean, Moana Pasifika managed to win against the Drua in Fiji, a feat not many sides can boast about, and in Sydney, the NSW Waratahs managed to beat the Queensland Reds in their state of origin derby. 

Super Rugby Promo 2026 | RP

Super Rugby Promo 2026 | RP

A tight contest between the Chiefs and the Blues saw the men from Waikato come out on top, and the Brumbies stormed Perth to claim a dominant win over the Western Force. 

So, finally, with some rugby to analyse, here are the takes on the Aussie teams after the first round. 

Waratahs show a growing maturity 

Almost 17,000 Waratahs faithful turned up to watch the opening game against the Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium, and no one in Sydney could’ve walked away un-entertained after that showing. 

End-to-end rugby saw both sides flex their muscles, but in the end, it was the Waratahs who nailed their fundamentals, who claimed the win, and the Bob Tempelton Cup.  

Dan McKellar spoke in the preseason of recruiting winners, instilling improved standards and a balanced intensity amongst the group, as well as players nailing their IP.  

Although the game on Friday night was far from perfect, the Waratahs looked like a side with clear intent. 

Whether it was kick-chase, ruck defence, or pod attack, the Waratahs went about their work with purpose.  

In 2025, attack coach Mike Catt’s shape wasn’t apparent, but it’s clear now that the players understand how Catt wants them to move the ball and opposition defences around the field.  

A few lucky bounces here or there certainly favoured the home side, but there’s no denying that they were more clinical when it mattered, and they had the top-end class to make the Reds pay. 

It would be remiss to talk about a maturing Tahs and not mention their boy wonder, Max Jorgensen. Although only 21 years old, he is quickly maturing into a world-class rugby player. 

His top-shelf class in the end was a big factor in the size of the victory margin, and it put a bow on the Waratahs’ dominant performance. 

 Likewise, flyhalf Lawson Creighton, a former Reds flyhalf, also underplayed his hand to get the best out of the elite talent around him. A mature and tempered player at no.10 is exactly what this team of stars needs. 

Discipline cost the Queensland Reds 

If you’d try to guess the score from the stats, you wouldn’t be scoffed at for thinking it was a draw, but that would only last until you got down to the penalty count. 

The Reds conceded 17 penalties to the Waratahs’ nine; that stat alone makes it almost impossible for any side to win a game of rugby. 

Reds coach Les Kiss may be counting his lucky stars that his side’s first bye-week comes in round 2, so that he and his leadership group can rectify the horribly lopsided penalty count.  

The biggest concern for Kiss will be that it appeared to be players individually making poor calls as opposed to a system issue, meaning it could either be a pressure reaction or something more sinister.  

Several offsides, diving off feet at the ruck, entering from the side, as well as repeated early engagements and not staying straight at the scrum. 

Newly anointed captain, and Wallabies no.7 Fraser McReight struggled to get a good read of referee Paul Williams’ whistle. 

He also struggled to establish a good rapport with the officials, something which he admitted to in the post-match press conference. 

The tall penalty count saw the Reds struggle for possession, territory, and momentum throughout much of the game, and it meant the Waratahs were never truly tested in defence. 

 The only time the visitors generated quick ball and consistent phases, they scored just before half-time.  

This was no fluke try either, the Reds attacked an edge where three Tahs players, who have never played together, were defending side-by-side and each was implementing different defensive structures. 

Kiss and his men will take the bye week to recalibrate and hope their long injury list grows considerably smaller. Wallabies Harry Wilson and Tate McDermott are still likely a month away from their returns. 

Brumbies buck the pre-season jitters 

After what was a rather underwhelming pre-season for the men from the capital, the perennial overachievers started the season proper off with a bang, running riot in Perth over the Western Force, 56-24. 

The Brumbies did what they always do, ensuring that the core group of players direct the ship into the right parts of the field whilst helping new recruits to shine. 

The strong presence of Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith in the halves, Rob Valetini and Rory Scott in the backrow, and the entire front row allowed Super Rugby Pacific debutant Kadin Pritchard to really show his wares at no.13. 

The young Brumby has recently taken a backseat to his little brother Treyvon at the Reds, but on Saturday arvo, Kadin really stood out. 

Tenacious, elusive, robust, and aggressive, Pritchard slotted seamlessly into a very experienced backline and definitely left hope for the Brumbies that the loss of Ikitau could see another star rise from their world-class pathways. 

Kadin made a game high of three linebreaks from 10 carries, whilst also topping the carry metres at 88m, seven metres more than speedster Corey Toole.  

Coach Stephen Larkham, the ever-quiet perfectionist, was pleased by Kadin’s efforts but said he’d like to see the youngster be more clinical in how he finished his linebreaks. 

Fellow debutant Toby McPherson also acquitted himself nicely after an early entry into the fray, so too did Shute Shield prop Tevita Alatini, despite attracting a yellow card. 

Despite some headline acts missing from the Brums, the core of the side remains stable, experienced and for many of their players, they are reaching their prime. 

Coach Stephen Larkham is delighted with his side’s ability to soak up pressure in the first half, and he praised them for their fortitude to kick on in the second 40 minutes. 

Larkham will see there is potential to grow, but a slow start will not cut it against a wounded Crusaders side next week in Christchurch. 

Western Force struggle to connect 

The glory of two pre-season wins has all but faded, with the Force firmly pummelled into the HBF Park ground, after a first half of so much promise. 

However, the first half, which ended 14-10 to the Brums, was full of missed opportunities and fluffed lines by the Force.  

They spent copious time in the Brumbies’ half and 22m zone, and they just couldn’t finish. 

New halfback Nathan Hastie supplied lots of energy but was also a big contributor to the rushed nature of the Force’s attack.   

A few sloppy balls and a few rushed deliveries to static lone runners before their pods were set hamstrung his own side’s rhythm.  

What started off as an issue from the base quickly spread to a team-wide problem. 

The Force were regularly short payers in their pods, something which coach Simon Cron blames on the “overuse” of the forwards. 

One or even two-man rucks were easy pickings for the Brumbies backrow, and it meant the Force let the Brumbies off the hook, time and time again.  

Whenever the Force looked ready to attack, there was always an element of their setup that was missing, and rather than slowing down the play and building into their structure, they took any half gap they could to generate quick ball at the cost of ball security.  

Backrow Vaolini Ekuasi was a battering ram for the homeside, Carlo Tizzano was determined, and winger Divad Palu was abrasive, but one-out efforts, slow cleaners at the ruck, or a bobbled ball meant all that energy and vigour resulted in nothing but frustration. 

While things were coming apart in attack, things got worse in defence as the game rolled on. In a side that is still learning how to play together, players often found themselves over-folding to one side or the other of the ruck, over-committing at the breakdown, and ultimately splintering in defence. 

The biggest positive is knowing that the new signing, Argentinian lock Franco Molina, will give his all to the Force jersey this season.  

On a day when heat regulations were in place, Molina regularly chased balls over 40 metres like a rabid dog. On two occasions, his efforts came against Australia’s fastest player, Corey Toole.  

On both those occasions, his doggedness resulted in territory gains for his side and mistakes by the Brumbies. 

His efforts also earned him possibly the try of the round, scooping up a grubber through from his fly-half Ben Donaldson to streak away for a five-pointer. 

In a game where there was nothing between the two sides in terms of set pieces, Simon Cron can take comfort in that he has a genuinely top-tier tight five, something which Molina will be an integral part of by season’s end.