The stakes could not be higher as we head into the final regular-round fixtures of Super Rugby AUS. With a Grand Final berth locked in and hosting rights on the line at Rat Park, alongside a high-stakes clash at Viking Park for Wallabies and Australia A selection, this weekend delivers non-stop domestic action across Sydney and Canberra.
NSW Waratahs vs Western Force
Date & Time: Sunday, 27 September 2026, 12:45pm AEST (10:45am WST)
Venue: Pittwater Rugby Park (Rat Park), Sydney
Broadcast: Stan Sport, Rugby.com.au, YouTube
The Lowdown
This top-of-the-table showdown at Rat Park will decide who hosts next week’s Super Rugby AUS Grand Final. Both teams sit undefeated at 2-0, but neither coach is taking it easy before the decider. Waratahs boss Lachlan McCaffrey is resting halfback Teddy Wilson and handing a starting debut to 18-year-old prodigy Angus Grover, who captained the Australian U18s to a series sweep over New Zealand last year. Adding to the local spice at Pittwater Park, Warringah Rats flanker Luke Reimer earns his first start in a Waratahs jersey on his home club ground, while clubmate Ben Fuhiniu joins the bench. Lock Miles Amatosero returns to partner captain Eamon Doyle, and 23-year-old tighthead prop Brady Dawson earns his first start of the campaign.
The Western Force arrive in Sydney flying high after steamrolling the Brumbies 40-12 in Ballina. Coach Simon Cron welcomes back Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch from a foot injury, while former Rebels lock Trevor Hosea makes his Force debut in the starting second row. Tongan tighthead prop and 2026 Rising Star winner Misinale Epenisa gets the nod up front, while Will Harris shifts to blindside flanker as vice-captain. With Nick Champion de Crespigny called up to the Wallabies squad to replace the injured Charlie Cale, former Aussie 7s star Aden Ekanayake comes onto the bench. Kurtley Beale pulls the strings at fly-half, looking to link up with an in-form backline featuring Boston Fakafanua and Zac Lomax.
Prediction
Waratahs by 4 points.
The Underdog’s Tip
While the Force possess plenty of firepower and momentum, playing in front of a partisan local crowd at Rat Park gives the Waratahs a narrow edge in what promises to be a physical, high-tempo battle.
Team Lists
Team lists are correct as of release via Clubs on Wednesday.
NSW Waratahs
- Tom Lambert, 2. Ethan Dobbins, 3. Brady Dawson, 4. Eamon Doyle (c), 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 7. Luke Reimer, 8. Isaac Fonua, 9. Angus Grover, 10. Max Burey, 11. Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong, 12. George Poolman, 13. Otto Serfontein, 14. Freedom Vahaakolo, 15. Sid Harvey.
Replacements: 16. Folau Fainga’a, 17. Nathaniel Tiitii, 18. Edwin Langi, 19. Joe Mangelsdorf, 20. Marshall Le Maitre, 21. Luca Cleverley, 22. Ben Fuhiniu, 23. Joe Dillon, 24. Charlie Bird, 25. Nick Chan.
Western Force
- Tom Robertson, 2. Nic Dolly (c), 3. Misinale Epenisa, 4. Zak Healey, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Will Harris (vc), 7. Jack Daly, 8. Jackson Iose, 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Wallace Charlie, 12. Boston Fakafanua, 13. Zac Lomax, 14. Dylan Pietsch, 15. Mac Grealy (vc).
Replacements: 16. Albert Alcock, 17. Max Sawers, 18. Regin Pratt, 19. Wil Taylor, 20. Aden Ekanayake, 21. Evan Hooper, 22. Ronan Leahy, 23. Kane Koteka, 24. Luke Aiken, 27. Bradley Kuhn.
ACT Brumbies vs Queensland Reds
Date & Time: Sunday, 27 September 2026, 2:05pm AEST
Venue: Viking Park, Canberra
Broadcast: Stan Sport, Rugby.com.au, YouTube
The Lowdown
Both sides head into Canberra desperate to make amends after taking heavy beatings last week. The Brumbies were outplayed by the Force, while the Reds suffered a humbling 47-19 loss to the Waratahs in Roma. Beyond pride, this fixture serves as the absolute last chance for players to catch the eye of Wallabies and Australia A selectors before upcoming international fixtures.
Brumbies have shuffled the deck, starting Dan Nelson at scrum-half alongside roommate Tane Edmed at 10. In the backline, Corey Toole shifts to fullback, Triston Reilly moves to the wing, and Kadin Pritchard joins Jarrah McLeod in midfield. Tighthead Tevita Alatini returns to the starting front row, while Wallabies hooker Lachlan Lonergan makes his long-awaited return from off-season surgery via the bench.
Queensland head coach Vern Cotter has demanded a reaction following their defensive lapses in Roma, turning to youthful power in his pack. Souths prop Trevor King (21) and Brothers No. 8 Vaiuta Latu (21) have both been rewarded with starting spots to bring badly needed physicality. Veteran playmaker Ben Volavola starts at fullback to partner Tom Lynagh in guiding the backline, while Easts centre Jake Pappin gets his first start at inside centre. On the bench, Souths lock Jake Kurbatoff and UQ scrum-half Flynn McDermott (younger brother of Wallaby Tate McDermott) are both inline for potential Super Rugby AUS debuts.
Prediction
Brumbies by 6 points.
The Underdog’s Tip
Expect Vern Cotter’s Reds to come out aggressive early, but the Brumbies’ home ground advantage at Viking Park and the injection of Wallaby experience off the bench through Lachlan Lonergan should turn the tide late in Canberra.
Team Lists
Team lists are correct as of release via Clubs on Wednesday.
ACT Brumbies
- Lington Ieli, 2. Liam Bowron, 3. Tevita Alatini, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Toby Macpherson (c), 6. Tavita Loughland, 7. Eli Langi, 8. Oscar Cleary, 9. Dan Nelson, 10. Tane Edmed, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Jarrah McLeod, 13. Kadin Pritchard, 14. Ollie Sapsford, 15. Corey Toole.
Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Rhys van Nek, 18. Darcy Breen, 19. Tu’ukalikali Vaipulu, 20. Darcy Fogarty, 21. Klayton Thorn, 22. Oscar Shaw, 23. Dylan Bretton, 24. Chace Oates, 25. TJ Talaileva, 26. Ewald Kruger.
Queensland Reds
- George Blake, 2. Matt Faessler (c), 3. Trevor King, 4. Will Ross, 5. Charlie Brosnan, 6. Joe Brial, 7. John Bryant, 8. Vaiuta Latu, 9. Mosiah Christian, 10. Tom Lynagh, 11. Sefa Naivalu, 12. Jake Pappin, 13. Josh Takai, 14. Tim Ryan, 15. Ben Volavola.
Replacements: 16. Zac Hough, 17. Harrison Usher, 18. Nick Bloomfield, 19. Jake Kurbatoff, 20. Tom Robinson, 21. Flynn McDermott, 22. Will McCulloch, 23. David Fusitu’a, 26. Dom Thygesen, 28. Alex Flanagan Smith.
6-2 bench !!!!!!!
Disappointed for Henry
Can’t wait for Serfontein v Lomax. Keep cool Amatosero.
Miles and Angus starting together
Angus might accidentally give Miles a bit of a shove in a ruck.
Let’s not pretend Angus doesn’t come from a line of hotheads himself.
I reckon people need to worry a bit less about Amatosero.
Wallabies locks ranked for discipline:
Player / Matches / Yellows / Reds / %
Frost / 133 / 2 / 0 / 2%
Williams / 99 / 2 / 0 / 2%
Shaw / 45 / 1 / 0 / 2%
Canham / 64 / 3 / 0 / 5%
Salakaia-Loto / 170 / 7 / 2 / 5%
Amatosero / 71 / 3 / 1 / 6%
Skelton / 293 / 14 / 5 / 6%
T Hooper / 102 / 7 / 0 / 7%
He’s not an outlier in his overall discipline in matches.
But to me it seems like he has gotten a reputation, à la LSL, for being a hothead, and it has taken ages for LSL to get over that, he’s still on the periphery.
I hope Amatosero turns into a long term first choice lock, but if he gets another chance and is carded for a dumb act again he’s more likely to end up as Swinton’s team mate in France and lost to us.
His training ground dust up with ASY and RA stepping in to suspend has put a spotlight on him.
Most clubs keep those type of events under wraps.
Of his three yellows I know two of them were soft ruck penalties (hands and entry) nothing to do with foul or dangerous play.
Have we got a self fulfilling process where internet forums build a reputation and then bemoan that he has one?
It’s got nuthing to do with forums. His actions have got it for him, how he deals with it and how he controls it is what will make or break him.
I’d reckon he’s up against LSL for a place in the 23. Unless they call OS players for the northern tour, they should both be in the NC squad
Why do you think he has a reputation apart from forums?
His card vs Japan has marked his cards for you?
(His other card this year vs Crusaders was impeding on a quick tap, there was actual push and shove after the whistle, started by Crusaders and Berry specifically said Miles was fine despite the provocation)
Let’s see if he catches Tom Hooper, Tom’s got a solid head start though. Or has he got a bad reputation too?
Great pick up of Ekanayake by the Force.
Have to see if he can stack a bit more weight on now he’s back in XV’s but he’s an excellent young player
I hope Lomax can get a bit more involved than the last two weeks. It’s starting to look like 13 is not a home for expensive league deserters
He always looks like he’s on the cusp of getting it, but just doesn’t quite
Rather than always look for offloads I’d like to see him square his shoulders and run some people over now and then
I liked his passing last week but agree, would be great to see him mix in some harder carries
Hopefully Teddy Wilson isn’t playing because he’s been called into Wallabies camp for a game this weekend
Rested so that Grover can have a run.
Quite like the look of Grover.
Mate what do the Force have to do for you to tip them?
Been into the taps a bit early I’d think, occupational hazard.
I can’t believe he would actually tip south of the border even if he thinks NSW will win.
It’s reverse psychology, I very much want them to win haha