The Western Force’s finals hopes won’t just be defined by the next fortnight, but those hoping to feature prominently in the British and Irish Lions too.
With six weeks remaining and five matches to come, you can understand why Simon Cron was a frustrated man following his side’s 17-all draw with the Hurricanes.
It denied them the chance of leapfrogging the Reds into fourth, but it also gave the Hurricanes two precious points. Now, they sit just one win above their New Zealand rivals on the table, on 22 points in fifth spot.
Last year’s two-week tour of New Zealand proved a nightmare.
After blowing countless opportunities against the Highlanders, they were walloped 56-7 against the Chiefs.
The defeat exposed the Force’s weak underbelly, but it also did nothing to push the claims of their Wallabies.
With six matches remaining that collapse simply can’t occur again.
The Western Force’s season is on the line over the next fortnight in New Zealand. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
While mathematically they’ll still be a chance to feature in the finals regardless of the tour, it won’t do anything for those on the fringe of the Wallabies – of which there are many – if they don’t show up against the Chiefs and Blues.
Indeed, Brandon Paenga-Amosa Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Ben Donaldson and Harry Potter are all fighting for Wallabies selection. Only Jeremy Williams looks like a genuine starter at this point.
Even Tizzano, who has been Australian rugby’s best in 2025, will want to continue his form because it’s one thing performing at home in Perth, it’s another against New Zealand’s best on the Shaky Isles. But after matching Du’Plessis Kirifi on Saturday, another strong outing could see him seriously challenge Fraser McReight for the No.7 jersey in the first Test.
Robertson, Champion de Crespigny, White and Donaldson have the most to gain on the tour.
Robertson, in particular, can help put himself firmly in the mix if he can do his part at the scrum.
Tom Robertson’s form for the Western Force has been outstanding in 2025. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
On Saturday, the experienced Wallaby, who has been in and out of the side since debuting in 2016, got under the skins of the Hurricanes by repeatedly getting Xavier Numea to collapse.
If he can do the business across the ditch, it’ll help convince selectors he’s worth a punt against the Lions because his work-rate is up there with the best.
O’Connor helping change the narrative for everyone over 30 – including himself
Australian rugby has become youth-obsessed over the past 15 years, but where’s that got them?
From Super Rugby to the Wallabies, coaches, general managers, the media and, yes, the public have always been interested with the new shiny toy.
It’s easy to understand, especially when results don’t go your way.
But too often CEOs, coaches and general managers have blamed the person pulling the strings rather than looking at the real reasons for their shortcomings.
For instance, O’Connor had his card marked only a few years ago when he struggled to set the world alight in a couple of rare opportunities in gold in 2022.
Bernard Foley was written off in 2019, but is still doing the business in Japan.
While youth was preferred ahead of Jack Debreczeni despite the Brumbies playmaker still only being 31.
But history shows that playmakers often improve as they get on if their bodies hold up.
At 34, O’Connor has embraced his role as a finisher with the Crusaders – and it’s paying dividends.
Remember Handre Pollard repeatedly came off the bench in the 2023 World Cup, before proving the hero for the Springboks in their incredible run of knockout fixtures.
O’Connor’s playing the finishing role masterfully for the Crusaders at present, with his 82nd minute match-winning penalty against the Blues his most recent highlight.
Nor does it seem a flash in the pan either, with O’Connor one of the Crusaders’ most consistent players in 2025. It comes after the former Wallabies No.10 embraced the finishing role.
O’Connor should certainly be in the mix to return to the Wallabies in a similar role.
Strangely enough, Eddie Jones almost pulled the trigger on him in 2023 when he asked him to travel with the Wallabies to Darwin ahead of the World Cup in case of an injury.
If he does earn selection, it will continue the 34-year-old’s incredible career, having been entrusted in the No.10 jersey to face the Lions by Robbie Deans in 2013.
Twelve years on, there’s no doubt he’s more experienced and capable in the role than he was in 2013.
Larkham’s men are this year’s big Super Rugby sleepers
After dropping early season matches against the Force and Waratahs, it looked like the Brumbies had missed their premiership window.
Stephen Larkham even admitted it, saying it might be “too late” to finish in the top two after their underwhelming effort against the Waratahs in Sydney last month.
But the Brumbies are showing many of the characteristics that title-winning sides have: physicality, resilience, dogged defence, a strong set-piece and lethal finishing.
Most of those were missing in 2024 – and they still made the semi-finals.
But the biggest turnaround is the Brumbies’ improved set-piece.
A week after putting the Reds to the sword, the Brumbies’ rolling maul once again proved effective as Billy Pollard scored a second-half double during their 24-0 win over Moana Pasifika. Their patience was outstanding.
The ACT Brumbies remain in the hunt for a top two finish. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Helping the Brumbies’ bid to finish in the top two is that they’ve got one of the best draws to finish the year, including four out of five games at home.
After staying in the fight after the opening month, which included wins in Suva and Auckland, the Brumbies have shown they can win on the road.
Now, they must win at home as winter nears to help their finals case.
Lone Tah stands up, again
Joe Schmidt’s decision to drop Langi Gleeson from the Wallabies’ pre-season camp in January is well-documented, but there’s no doubting it lit a fire in his belly.
The 23-year-old, who has been selected by the past three Wallabies coaches since debuting in Super Rugby in 2022, ranks alongside Tizzano as Australia’s best in Super Rugby this season.
After being asked to come off the bench in Lautoka, Gleeson made an immediate impact against the Drua.
He not only scored, but also made ten of his 11 tackles, and made the most metres (25) by a Waratahs forward in attack.
Meanwhile, with Angus Bell rested, no other forward made ten metres in attack.
Gleeson might not be a starter against the Lions, but he’s putting together a compelling package to once again earn selection in the matchday squad because everything he is doing is first-class – and he’s also the most explosive forward in Australian rugby at present.
Wallabies coaching circus must end
The fact we’re into week 11 of Super Rugby and the Wallabies coach has yet to be announced is both unfortunate and unnecessary.
Although Les Kiss is expected to be announced as Joe Schmidt’s successor imminently, the fact it’s dragged out this long has undoubtedly hurt the Queensland Reds.
There’s not been a single week that the subject has been talked about and there’s no doubt it’s been a distraction for Kiss and the Reds.
Need it have been?
If it was going to drag deep into April, RA should never have indicated that a decision was “weeks, not months” away.
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne and CEO Phil Waugh (R) have yet to announce Joe Schmidt’s successor despite saying a decision would be “weeks, not months” away in February. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
After enjoying a week off, the Reds have one of their most important weeks ahead as they host the Blues in their annual Anzac clash against their trans-Tasman rivals.
Once again though the focus is still on Kiss. It’s not ideal.
Meanwhile, as the players are asked about it at every press conference, Schmidt remains hidden behind his Wallabies cloak of invincibility.
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby team of the week:
James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Langi Gleeson, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Corey Toole, Hamish Stewart, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead, Mac Grealy
