‘This game matters’: How Super Rugby clash will impact Wallabies selection

Dual international Mat Rogers has effectively described this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs as a Wallabies audition, with the likes of Max Jorgensen and Tim ‘Junkyard Dog’ Ryan set to face off on the field.

There’s nothing quite like New South Wales and Queensland in Australian sport. Rugby league’s State of Origin is one of the nation’s biggest sporting events for a reason, but this intense rivalry stretches across all sports and competitions, including Super Rugby Pacific.

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar described the Reds as Super Rugby’s “best team” on Saturday, only for the Queenslanders to lose the following afternoon in Christchurch. The Tahs remain unbeaten from their three matches, while the Reds boast a 2-1 record.

But putting form aside, neither side will lack motivation ahead of this Aussie derby. The New South Welshman will travel north of the border for a match at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium which could have major ramifications on Wallabies selection in a matter of months.

“That’s the key, isn’t it? It’s performing but it’s performing under pressure,” Rogers said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven. “There’s no greater pressure than these two sides coming together and they’re fighting out for Australian positions.

“There’s no question the selectors, the coach will be there watching this.

“It’s going to matter. There’s no question about it; this game matters for your Australian selection so you want to put your best foot forward and I hope we see it from both sides this weekend.”

Ryan and Jorgensen were highlighted as two players to watch in this match. The ‘Junkyard Dog’ will start on the left wing for the Reds, while Jorgensen has been named to start once again for the Tahs after crossing for a scintillating double last time out against the Western Force.

Jorgensen scored about seven minutes into last Saturday’s match after receiving a sublime cut-out pass from fly-half Lawson Creighton. The Wallaby scored again later in the first term after reading an intercept opportunity to perfection and came close to a hat-trick later on.

There’s an argument to be had about whether ‘Jorgo’ is the form winger in Super Rugby Pacific at the moment, although the likes of Dylan Pietsch, Sevu Reece and Kyren Taumoefolau might have a thing or two to say about that.

Then there’s the ‘Junkyard Dog’ who has continued to soar after taking out Australia’s Rookie of the Year in 2024. Ryan scored against Moana Pasifika in the Reds’ first match of the season and has since made another two appearances early in this campaign.

The stage is set for a marquee match-up between two wingers fighting for Wallabies selection ahead of the British and Irish Lions Series in a matter of months.

“It’s tough, second-year syndrome, we all talk about it but… he’ll get through that. He’s got a great support network around him with his teammates and you put him in space, there’s one thing you can’t buy and that’s speed and he’s got plenty of it,” Rogers had mentioned.

“Maxy Jorgensen, he’s been touted as a prodigy for a few years now, he’s had a bit of a run of injuries, but I think now he’s just coming into his professionalism. He’s now understanding and knowing what it means to be a professional athlete and we’re seeing that show up in some of his performances.

“… Once you’ve been through a couple of years your experience grows, your confidence grows, and you just feel like you belong,” he added. “That first and second year can be a little testy at times.

“But I guess the challenge for all these outside backs is what is the makeup going to be at Wallaby time. You look at the outside backs, the depth of our outside backs right now is just phenomenal.”