The Waratahs have spent a punishing pre-season trying to exorcise the legacy of last year’s disastrous campaign that yielded a wooden spoon and just two wins from 14 games.
On Saturday, they will play their final trial against the Brumbies in Bowral ahead of their first game against the Highlanders at home in two weeks. The Waratahs are reloaded with a star-studded roster and a new coach in Dan McKellar. The expectation on the team weighs heavier than ever, so what will fans be hoping to see this weekend?
Getting the galacticos to gel
McKellar and Waratahs director of rugby Simon Raiwalui have completed Australian rugby’s version of the tactic for their team.
They have signed Wallabies Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota, Andrew Kellaway, Issac Kailea and Darby Lancaster from the defunct Rebels, but the headlines have been reserved for former Roosters player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who will make his debut on Saturday at fullback after starring for the Wallabies as a centre in November.
During the captain’s run in Sydney on Friday, Suaalii was comfortable directing the backline and stayed behind late to field high kicks. He then spent time lying on the turf at different angles alone to ensure his presentation to his halfback was perfect. The smallest details matter to Suaalii and he has the perfect opportunity to showcase his full skill set with more time to move on the field.
The Waratahs will start with 10 Wallabies on the field and three on the bench, and will be looking to find cohesion as a team early in attack and defence.
NSW Waratahs player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will debut for the Waratahs on Saturday Credit: AAP
Confidence remains the key
The momentum of a season can shift dramatically in a few games. After beating the Crusaders in round two on the road by 13 points last year, there were signs the Waratahs could compete with anyone in the competition.
Then they lost their next three games – against the Highlanders, the Blues and the Fijian Drua – in heartbreaking fashion by two, two and three points respectively. A handbrake had been swiftly pulled on their momentum. Over the next nine games, here was just one more win – against the visiting Crusaders – and the Waratahs were left licking their wounds after their second-worst season in Super Rugby behind their winless one in 2021.
After two trial wins against Japan’s Kubota Spears and an NSW Pacifica side, this represents the full dress rehearsal for the Waratahs ahead of round one. It is not a full-strength Brumbies team, but they will want to take the wind out of the sails of a Waratahs side keen to head into the season proper full of confidence.
“I think the result is somewhat important, but it’s not everything,” Waratahs captain Jake Gordon said on Friday. “We want to come into the game. We know there’s going to be clunky moments in there. We don’t want to put any added extra pressure on ourselves.”
Wrapping the team in cotton wool
The injury issues that plagued the Waratahs last year have been well-documented, with the poor state of the training field being identified as one factor behind the glut of front-row injuries in the team.
Last year, the Waratahs lost all 10 contracted front rowers to season-ending injuries, including star prop Angus Bell in April, forcing former coach Darren Coleman to exhaust his little black book of scrummagers.
Part-time concreter and Gordon hooker Jay Fonokalafi left the building site in May to make his debut for the Waratahs in May as the club’s medical facilities strained under the weight of relentless injuries.
Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki aggravated his achilles in a trial game against the Rebels last year, missing the whole season for club and country and leaving a hole that could never be properly filled. He returns on Saturday to start.
McKellar and his backroom team have ensured that the training field issues have been fixed up and the coach will be desperate to keep the bulk of his powerful forward pack fit and healthy ahead of round one in Sydney.
Unlocking the attacking playbook
The Waratahs now have one of the world’s best attack coaches in Mike Catt at their disposal and on Saturday there will be a glimpse of how he wants his team to play. In 2024, the Waratahs had a total of 38 tries, the third lowest in Super Rugby.
The former Ireland assistant coach will marshal a new-look backline pivoted by refreshed playmaker Tane Edmed after his successful stint in NPC for North Harbour and his time with the Wallabies camp in November. His international debut against Ireland in November lasted a mere three minutes due to a head knock, but Edmed is fizzing with possibilities ahead of Super Rugby.
The Waratahs have lost outstanding talent in centre Izaia Perese and winger Dylan Pietsch to Leicester and the Force respectively, but on Saturday there will be a new chance for the backline to step up, spearheaded by a fit and fresh Lalakai Foketi at outside centre, desperate to prove himself after a neck injury before the opening round last year, stunted his season.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, with every match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
