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Ex-Wallaby’s bold call before Waratahs’ clash with rivals Brumbies

6 hours ago

Charlie Gamble of the Waratahs looks dejected during the round five Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium, on March 15, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chloe Davis/Getty Images)

Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has labelled the ACT Brumbies “a better team” than the NSW Waratahs ahead of this weekend’s Aussie derby at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

Under coach Dan McKellar, the Waratahs will look to bounce back in round six after suffering their first loss of the Super Rugby Pacific season against the Queensland Reds on Saturday.

Winger Triston Reilly struck for the Tahs as they took an early 5-nil lead on enemy territory, only for the Reds to take over later on with a 28-point blitz. Fraser McReight scored what former Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps described as “one of the best tries I’ve seen this year.”

The Reds were in fine form, with an injury-riddled Tahs outfit struggling for answers in that fifth-round derby. But a new week in Super Rugby Pacific presents all teams in action with an opportunity to bounce back or maintain their winning form.

There’s no better time for the Tahs to make a statement than this Saturday, as the men in sky blue prepare to take on another Australian rival. It’s a tough task for the Tahs, who are coming up against a Brumbies side who’ve won their last two.

“It’s all about what team the Tahs roll out there. The Brumbies are a better team than the Tahs at the moment,” Turinui said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“Foketi is a massive loss at the moment, just in that middle. [Henry] O’Donnell’s doing well, [Joey] Walton’s a great communicator.

“They had chances, they just couldn’t put the Reds away to convert enough. They had lots and lost of 22 entries and they just couldn’t get there.”

The Waratahs were without captain Jake Gordon and injured midfielder Lalakai Foketi for their clash with the Reds, and then of course there’s the absence of Rugby Australia’s multi-million dollar marquee recruit, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Suaalii debuted for the Wallabies during last year’s Spring Tour, before playing even a minute of Super Rugby with the Waratahs. That first match in sky blue came in the first round of this season, with the former NRL flyer impressing at fullback against the Highlanders.

But Suaalii hasn’t played since.

That’s prompted a bit of a backline reshuffle with Wallaby Andrew Kellaway shifting to fullback from the wing, while Darby Lancaster came into the starting side for matches against the Fijian Drua and Western Force.

Henry O’Donnell has also held down the fort in the team’s midfield, with the former Junior Wallaby making the move back home to Sydney from the Western Force before this year’s season.

But there’s no doubt, if available, the Tahs would love to have Suaalii back in action. That sets up a potentially intriguing matchup between two Wallabies teammates, with Brumby Len Ikitau expected to start at outside centre after a hat-trick against the Drua last time out.

“If they pick him,” Turinui questioned. “Are they going to pick him there [in the midfield], though?

“I don’t mind him at fullback.”

Phipps added: “I think with Foketi out for a bit longer it’s probably more of a spot in there for him.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

Tom 11 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I don't think you can neglect the fact that England really should have lost both Scotland and France games. 99 times out of 100 France aren't dropping the ball over the line 3 or 4 times, that was a freakish run of good fortune. They played well in the second half against France and deserve a lot of credit for hanging in there but if we're judging their performances - they were very good in one half against France and quite poor for the whole Scotland game. The forwards were very impressive throughout the whole campaign but England need to find their attacking identity. If the Wales match was the blueprint sobeit but we need to see them own that performance and for it not to be a blip like last year's Ireland performance.

5 Go to comments

Tom 16 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

An A is pushing it for England. I was pleasantly surprised by the Wales performance but the rest of the matches we were just OK. We did well to hang in there against France and Scotland but could/should have lost both games. You've given England an A but let's be brutally honest, if Fin Russell gets that last kick, you wouldn't be giving England an A. Our forwards deserved an A for the whole tournament. The backs and the attack in general struggled to find their feet for most of the tournament and our defense was iffy at times. Some fantastic work from a group of forwards who are turning into one of the best packs in the world but overall an identity and attacking shape was really lacking for most of the tournament and as well as England played, there will be tougher tests than Wales to judge them on.

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The Late News 44 minutes ago

How Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are winning rugby's secret information war

Cheers mate.

71 Go to comments

RedWarriors 46 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

France were under pressure all through that match. England played well enough to bring it down to a tight encounter and their plan for a late try worked. No referees for France to blame this time either.

5 Go to comments

MichaelT4 1 hour ago

Mick Cleary: 'England are back among the heavyweights.'

In fairness to Borthwick he has done a good job of blooding youngsters already himself in matches against the top tier teams. Fin Baxter starting against New Zealand last summer, Cunningham-South too. Fin Smith this year. The squad depth is impressive when you also consider Furbank, Underhill, IFW and George Martin can come back in.

If, and its a big if, Borthwicks plan is to create 30 odd test players then he is going about it quite well. Fingers crossed.

8 Go to comments

ZamaZama 1 hour ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

Once again the whining schoolboy wants to tell everyone how to behave. What a 💩

17 Go to comments

RedWarriors 1 hour ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

He publicly demanded that the Irish players should be cited and declared their actions reprehensible. The obvious implication is that the referee has made grave errors and that the ‘culprits’ and ‘butchers’ of Dupont were not reprimanded. Of course he publicly stated that he didn’t blame the referee. Ofcourse his meaning was clear and the evidence is collective rage by the French public against the referee. This is dishonest and cowardice by Galthie. The two Irish players he attacked then received threats to their safety by French ‘supporters’.

We know that France have more suspensions for dangerous tackles than all other six nations combined under Galthie.

We know that he publicly lied about the ‘injustice’ of the Ntamack v Ringrose bans. He knew the difference, he acknowledged it in his evidence for Ntamack and he knew that French players had benefitted more than any others over both cases in previous years.

The last thing rugby needs is trial by media by mini Trumps who are only interested in cheating for their own country and disguising their own short comings.

17 Go to comments

MichaelT4 1 hour ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I definitely watched the game - England did stun them by winning, no one expected that. Not Englands fault that France dropped the ball - figuratively and literally - and it was England who then outscored them and out scrummed them and battered their big forwards back several times. England arent given enough credit for that win. Game of the tournament. Ireland v France wasnt a game by the second half, it was one-way.

For the Scotland game they were lucky Russell missed his kicks, but Scotland should have had a red card for the head contact from the winger on Chessum. No arms, jumped up and first contact was with the head. Evens out on the luck front.

Not sure England deserve an A that this article gives them, should be reserved for the winner, but they won their games by scoring more points. If another team had the same tournament as England, they would be lauded for their character and grit.

5 Go to comments

JB 2 hours ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Re England … “they stunned France …”

Really? Were we watching the same game? France left at least 3 tries begging, none of which were due to England’s defense - they should have been out of sight by half time.

For me, it was more France losing the game than England winning it.

France were stunned, yes, but by themselves

5 Go to comments

Jahmirwayle 2 hours ago

Crusaders rookie earns 'other than Dupont' praise from All Blacks star

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TI 2 hours ago

Lions selection: 3 winners and losers from each country

Hugo Keenan played well in games where Ireland didn’t. I think he should be listed as a winner instead of Beirne, or Sheehan, who were always going to go.

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Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

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36 Go to comments

fl 2 hours ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

It will be interesting to see how developmental the summer squad is. Given how much consistency of selection there was throughout 2024 and the early part of 2025, I wonder if Borthwick’s suddenly erratic teamsheets were an attempt to build enough depth to play almost solely first team players against Argentina.

E.g. if Freeman and Furbank both go to Australia (which I think would be unlikely) England could still field a back three of Marcus Smith, Roebuck, and Feyi-Waboso, with Steward, Daly, Sleightholme, and Murley also in the squad. Similarly if both Curry brothers and Ben Earl all go (which I think would be similarly unlikely) England could still select Tom Willis, Underhill, and Cunningham-South in the back row. Hardly a developmental lineup! There would have to be newer and less experienced players brought in in the second row and at centre, but even here there could be starting partnerships of Martin & Coles and Dingwall & Daly.

I think there’s a good chance England’s progress will be built on directly in Argentina.

36 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 2 hours ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

The big concern for me is that our 13 forwards are at a big disadvantage against their 15.

36 Go to comments

Otagoman II 2 hours ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

They had an average game against a Hurricanes side that was marginally better. They were poor protecting their ball and blew many promising attacking raids. Tangitau did his best to win the game by himself with a 85 metre intercept try and a a quick tap kick ahead that resulted in another. Highlanders scored no phase play tries. Joseph said that their attack was basically too conservative playing one out and that the support should of been better. They will need to do better with their attack this saturday as the Reds have plenty of points in them with quick ball.

36 Go to comments

fl 2 hours ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?