Waratahs vs Brumbies takes: Big Wallabies question, still in the race

The ACT Brumbies have secured a place in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, holding on for a 21-14 win over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney. If the Queensland Reds beat Moana Pasiifka on Saturday, the top six will be set with one round left.

Waratahs fly-half Jack Bowen made a stunning try-saver early on, but the Brumbies still went into the sheds up by 14. Billy Pollard and Cadeyrn Neville both got on the scoresheet, but the match was closer than the 14-point difference suggested.

Milestone man Allan Alaalatoa capped off his 150^th Brumbies appearance with a try in the 51^st minute, burrowing over for a crucial five-pointer. The Brums were heading toward a season-defining win on the road before Lachlan Lonergan was shown a yellow card.

The Tahs made the most of their one-man advantage, with Isaac Kailea fighting to the line for a necessary score with less than 20 to play. Harry Potter made a large break down the right edge soon after, as the New South Welshman searched for more points.

The 21-0 score didn’t tell the full story

Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan slotted a difficult conversion in the 52^nd minute to give the away side a commanding 21-nil lead. The Brums had scored three tries to none, despite having less possession and territory.

When that shot at the poles sailed over the black dot, the Waratahs had had 51 per cent of the ball and more than 55 per cent of territory. But New South Wales failed to turn attacking chances into points when it mattered, especially in the first half.

In fact, when the two teams left the field for half-time, it was almost surprising to see the score favour the Brumbies 14-0. The match had been close, more than the scoreboard suggested, but the difference was execution in the 22.

Waratahs outside backs made a break along the right touchline during the first half but it led to an error. There were other instances of point-scoring chances that didn’t lead to any change on the score for the Tahs.

Both teams tackled at more than 90 per cent, but the Tahs conceded more penalties. Another telling moment was Rhys van Nek holding a Waratahs player up over the try line with 20 to play, keeping the team’s lead at 21.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Tahs, who clawed their way back late with tries to Isaac Kailea and Max Jorgensen. Red zone execution has been a Tahs talking point all season, and that carried into Friday night, but the late fightback still seemed a more fitting reflection of this contest.

The big Wallabies question

Rob Valetini was ruled out of the first Test of the 2025 Lions Series, with Will Skelton another big omission. Those two were left to watch from the sidelines after picking up injuries, but returned for a thriller at the MCG.

Valetini got a start at blindside flanker against the tourists but again succumbed to injury. After two more starts at blindside during The Rugby Championship, Valetini shifted to the bench for the Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Perth.

That was the first of three appearances off the bench that season.

Reds captain Fraser McReight has long been regarded as one of, if not the best, openside flanker playing the sport today, and Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson was named in the 2025 World Rugby Dream Team at No. 8.

When it comes to the No. 6 jumper, Tom Hooper and Nick Champion de Crespigny are options, but so is Valetini. But whether it’s actually best for Valetini to feature off the bench, as surprising and outlandish as it might seem, is a conversation worth having.

Valetini had six carries in the first seven minutes against the Tahs.

That immediate impact would be a welcomed boost to any side. But what if that comes against a tiring side early in the second half? The idea of ‘finishers’ or ‘impact players’ is an essential part of the game today, and Valetini could play an important role off the pine for the national team.

With a game-high number of carries (20) and an elite number of tackles (18), Valetini showed on Friday why he has twice been named the John Eales Medallist (Wallabies Player of the Year).

Having the team’s best player come off the bench, with this sort of impact, would be a game-changing weapon for the Wallabies. It would be a key to future successes, leading into a home Rugby World Cup next year.

So, what should Wallabies selectors do with Bobby V?

Still in the race, and that’s all that matters for the Brums

It’s an undeniable fact that, during the early rounds, the Brumbies were the form team in Super Rugby Pacific. You could even go as far to say they’re the title favourites, having stunned the Crusaders in Christchurch and beaten the Blues at home.

But fast-forward to round 15, the Brumbies sat in fifth on the standings, with Australian rivals the Queensland Reds and Waratahs not too far behind. It’s true, the Brumbies remained in control of their own destiny, but their fate was still far from certain.

With the Crusaders stunning the Chiefs in a New Zealand derby epic earlier on Friday evening, six teams were left to battle for the final two playoff spots. The Brums and Tahs had it all to play for in a season-defining Aussie derby, and in the end, the visitors got the chocolates.

That win has secured the Brumbies’ place in the post-season. This is a team that stormed past the defending champions 50-24 in Christchurch and tasted victory against another three New Zealand sides.

It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows this season, with losses at home to the Reds and Fijian Drua standing out, as well as the 45-12 Super Round defeat to the ladder-leading Hurricanes.

But this win over the Tahs was another step in the right direction.

It was brave, at times both gusty and flawed, but certainly hard-earned.

Players made mistakes during a stalemate opening 20 minutes, with the teams locked at nil-all. Ryan Lonergan and Rob Valetini helped lead the visitors forward, with Billy Pollard diving over for the opening points.

The Brumbies built up a 21-0 lead, but the Waratahs refused to throw in the towel, with a Max Jorgensen try making it a one-score game with plenty of time still on the clock.

But they did enough to secure the win and book a ticket to the playoffs.

The Brumbies are still in the race this season.

And that’s all that matters.