The strengths and weaknesses of the Australian Super Rugby Pacific squads

It’s like a mini Christmas to have the Super Rugby Pacific squads dropped now, ahead of what is going to be a massive 2027 for Australian and global rugby.

With each squad drop, fans get to see some big-name signings and perhaps some of their favourite players leaving the club.

Right across the Australian landscape, there are some trends, some good, and some bad, and while a lot of firepower has rejoined the Super Rugby profile, there are inevitably some names that have left some big holes in the rosters.

No Australian side has won a Super Rugby competition since the Waratahs in 2014, under Michael Cheika, who just happens to be one of the big-time inclusions for the Waratahs this year as their head coach, and he will no doubt be hoping to double his titles.

Although there is a genuine sense of maturity across the administration, coaching staff, and orders of operations across the country, it is nonetheless important to be circumspect about the squads’ strength.

The squads must be holistically analysed before claiming this is the year for an Aussie team to reach the final, and maybe even win it.

So without further ado, let’s go through position by position, and club by club to try and get a genuine grasp of where the strengths and weaknesses are for the Super Rugby Pacific teams in 2027.

NSW Waratahs

Props

Any propping stock is made infinitely better with Angus Bell in the mix, and the bullocking prop has returned from his sabbatical in Northern Ireland to rejoin Cheika’s Tahs. While there is no better prop at running the ball, there are still some questions over Bell’s scrummaging, and if you look at the Waratahs list of props, there is some experience, a lot of youth, and great carriers, but few scrummagers who have proven themselves at this level; it could be a point of weakness should a frontline starter go down during the season.

Hooker

It’s a strong but shallow pool of talent with fringe Wallaby Ethan Dobbins, Wallaby Folau Fainga’a, and a junior Wallaby a while back in George Francis; this eclectic bunch of rakes has the pedigree, and depending on whether they can stay fit, they could be the glue or the undoing for the Tahs’ pack.

Second row

Miles Amatosero and Matt Philip are the only two Test-level locks in the cohort, and although young Eamon Doyle has impressed at Super Rugby AUS level and now on the Australia-A tour, it’s often the back-to-back training weeks and game days that cook young second rowers. This combination, along with Veikoso Poloniati from Moana Pasifika, may just be too light to feed the furnace in the engine room.

Backrow

There is a hard edge and power in this backrow with the likes of  Pete Samu, Luke Reimer, Clem Halaholo and Angus Scott-Young, supported by an up-and-coming Isaac Fonua and Marshall Le Maitre. The potential for an almost unmatched back row is here, but it just depends on whether Cheika can get the most out of this group to be the demolition crew he needs.

Halves

There is perhaps no more experienced halves pairing in Super Rugby Pacific than Bernard ‘the Iceman’ Foley and Nick ‘Fang’ Phipps, but a Teddy Wilson or a Jake Gordon at halfback and a Max Burey at flyhalf promises the Tahs the generals needed to drive the side around the field; this is perhaps the Waratahs’ biggest weapon in their bid for glory in 2027.

Centres

This is where things become unstuck for the Tahs: a league convert in his first year, a youngster who has missed a year of rugby due to suspension, a bloke who has barely played in the Waratahs colours, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii who is now a winger on the Test stage. Angus Crichton’s learning curve is going to be very steep because the game is not what it was 12 years ago when he was running around for Scots College, and Suaalii, although more than capable at Super Rugby level in the centres, shouldn’t have to be shoe-horned into centre to cover up a lack of signings.

Back three

This back three is stacked with talent, x-factor and great game nous but again, the talent pool is short on experience, so should a starter go down for an extended period of time, things could get dicey on the edges.

Queensland Reds

Props

This is a stacked roster with four Wallabies and a host of young guns who all have the potential to be Wallabies in the future. All eyes are on the progress of Massimo De Lutiis in a World Cup year, as well as Tom Lambert, and if there was any prop who could match Bell in the loose in the future, it’s Kingley Uys; keep an eye out for him.

Hooker

It is a solid one-two punch with Wallabies Matt Faessler and Josh Nasser, but the drop-off should one of them be rested or rotated would be decent; the Reds’ rakes will be crucial in nailing their lineout as it looks to be a weapon for them as well as the scrum in 2027.

Second row

This is a stellar matchday 23 in the second row, with the Wallaby duo Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham starting and veteran Cadeyrn Neville coming off the pine. Yet again, though, the next cab off the rank isn’t Super Rugby stock, and that strength could become a vulnerability with only one injury in the group.

Backrow

This is one cohort where depth is not an issue in the slightest; even after Wallaby captains Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson, the Reds have plenty of quality, Super Rugby experience, and hard-working bruisers. The back row is one of the three biggest strengths for the Queenslanders.

Halves

There is plenty of Wallaby talent here; it just depends if they can all stay fit and on the field. 2026 was a nightmare for the Reds’ halves, and there are still concerns it could be another one in 2027. However, should Carter Gordon, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, and Kalani Thomas all stay fit and hit form, then it will be their biggest weapon in 2027.

Centres

Losing Josh Flook and Hunter Paisami in one off-season is far from ideal, and it leaves behind an abrasive, yet mostly inexperienced cohort, which is a cause for concern. The signing of Wallaby Izaia Perese after his stint in England is a great signature to get, but now he just has to get fit and prove he was worth the investment.

Back three

It’s a scintillating bunch of rapid men, none more exciting than Trevyon Pritchard, who will be back to health following a nasty hip drop tackle at U20s level earlier in the year. There is no heir apparent to Jock Campbell, which means the no.15 jersey is vacant without a clear candidate; Pritchard should play there, but he has his eyes on no.12, so it remains to be seen what Vern Cotter does with the generational talent that is Treyvon.

ACT Brumbies

Props

The men from the bush capital have the strongest scrummaging front row in the competition at first glance. Three Wallabies, two of whom are the most experienced props in Australian rugby, and their backups are Australia-A quality or very sound scrummagers in their own right; the scrum will be a weapon for the Brums in 2027.

Hooker

This is the best hooking stock in Australia by some distance. Even if they were to lose one of their two Wallabies in Billy Pollard or Lachlan Lonergan for a week or two, their replacement in Liam Bowron has now proved he is a sound lineout thrower and a strong scrummager; this is a strong glue for the Brums’ set piece.

Second row

The Brumbies locks are going to be the best in Aussie Super Rugby, of that there is little doubt, and they went big, like really big, when they recruited 140kg and 203cm Aiden Stait. You build a pack around this man mountain, and although you have Wallabies Nick Frost and Lachie Shaw, as well as a U20s captain in Toby MacPherson, Stait’s physical dimensions allow you to play a McPherson at no.6 if you want the extra size and lineout threat against the bigger Kiwi packs. It’s all very exciting in Brumby land.

Backrow

The starting back row of Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, and Charlie Cale is among the best and most dynamic in the comp, but this is where the lack of experience in the next cab off the rank comes to the fore. If MacPherson comes into the backrow equation, there’s enough talent amongst the youngsters to be able to get the right development in 2027.

Halves

It’s a tight yet Wallaby-laden crew. Ryan Lonergan at halfback alongside flyhalves Tane Edmed and Declan Meredith should be able to steer this side into finals once again, but these three must stay on the park to truly be able to capitalise on this forward pack’s potential, and to feed the x-factor out wide.

Centres

Any centre combination with Len Ikitau in the fold is instantly a lot better, but there is a lack of experience and game-changing ability here amongst the Brums’ centres. A centre combo of Ikitau and Kadin Pritchard looks like the most dynamic, but all remains to be seen about how coach Stephen Larkham sees Ikitau’s role with David Feliuai usually playing no.12.

Back three

This is a point of strength for the Brums: Tom Wright at the back with Corey Toole and evergreen Andy Muirhead on the wings, supported by a Kye Oates, Triston Reilly, and the ever-adaptable and dependable Ollie Sappsford means they have great coverage and genuine experience across the entire cohort.

Western Force

Props

This front row is full of workers, grafters, and brawlers; they may not get the spotlight as much as the other three teams in 2027, but their scrummaging ability will be right up there with the best. Misinale Epenisa has gone from strength to strength, and young Marley Pearce is now very experienced alongside Wallaby Tom Roberston. The addition of Reuben O’Neill from the Chiefs is a very solid addition to the scrummagers.

Hooker

If the Brumbies don’t have the best hooking stock, then it’s the Force because Super Rugby AUS captain Nic Dolly, Argentinian international Leonel Oviedo, and Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa give you scrummaging brawn, lineout accuracy, and plenty of work rate.

Second row

The Western Force only have two locks named officially at this time, Jeremy Williams and Lopeti Faifua, hardly a world-beating pairing. Williams is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and the loss of Wallaby Darcy Swain and Los Pumas Franco Molina, as well as veteran Sam Carter in one off-season, now looks like the Force’s greatest signing blunder. They must scour the globe for more quality tall timber or the rest of their hard work and quality will be undone.

Backrow

This is straight-up streetfighter stuff from the Force’s backrow; Nick Champion De Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, and Jack Daly are all as hard-nosed as it gets. The loss of regular 2026 meter-eater Vaiolini Ekuasi will be keenly felt, with none of the recruits truly able to replicate his feats with ball-in-hand.

Halves

Along with the Tahs, this may just be the most experienced halves combo in the nation. Nathan Hastie, Henry Robertson, and Agustin Moyana are all Test level or thereabouts and have plenty of rugby under their belts. In the flyhalves: James O’Connor, Ben Donaldson, and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips are an excellent trio to guide this hungry Force side into the right parts of the field.

Centres

Again, and you may have noticed a pattern here, the Force’s centres are inexperienced, untested, and lack genuine size. Should they hone their connection in the off-season, there is enough mongrel for it to work, but it doesn’t look like a power-play position for them. Perhaps a move by Zac Lomax from back three to centre can help change it, but you wouldn’t want to hold your breath.

Back three

The signing of James Ramm is perhaps the signing of the Super Rugby Pacific season, apart from Aiden Stait. Ramm’s addition gives the Force’s backfield a new dimension, and at 191cm tall and weighing in at almost 100kg, his size, along with Dylan Pietsch, gives the Force’s backfield starch as well. Sevens rising star Wallace Charlie and fringe Wallaby Mac Grealy are also two deadly finishers who will be great when they get their opportunities.