Once Australia U20 teammates, skippers Toby Macpherson and Eamon Doyle will take the reins as rivals ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs face off in Super Rugby AUS.
Macpherson (2024) and Doyle (2025) have graduated from leading the under-age sides into leadership roles, starting against each other in Sunday's clash in Bungendore.
Watch every second of Super Rugby AUS live and on-demand via Stan Sport and Rugby.com.au.
The pair played together at the 2024 Junior World Championship, and Doyle credited Macpherson with helping his leadership grow.
“My first year of 20s, Toby was our captain. He and I are very similar in many ways. We might not be the loudest speakers, but we just try to lead by example, and he definitely showed me that during our time in the 20s together," Doyle said.
"He's a quiet, humble country kid, someone to admire so it'll be pretty cool."
Macpherson featured heavily in 2026 under coach Stephen Larkham, with 13 appearances, and was honoured by the nod.
“It means a lot. The club has helped me a lot in my career and in becoming a professional athlete," he said.
"It means a lot to be able to represent the club and captain, but more so just to be seen in that aspect is great.”
Both teams are stacked with experience in different aspects of their line-ups.
Larkham has named several regular starters in the backline, with capped Wallabies Corey Toole and Tane Edmed joined by new recruit Triston Reilly.
Meanwhile, Waratahs stand-in coach Lachlan McCaffrey has bolstered his pack with Wallabies Pete Samu and Isaac Kailea, Kailea set to finish the game off the bench.
There's also a host of emerging talent, with Australia U20 teammates Eli Langi and TJ Talaileva (Brumbies) facing off with Edwin Langi and Marshall Le Maitre.
It shows the rivalry still runs deep for the respective sides, with the notion of 'Tah Week' still ringing in the ears of the Brumbies.
“I think there's definitely that intensity and that desire from the boys to want to put on a good performance against who are our biggest rivals," Macpherson said.
“I think everyone's just excited about the prospect of playing footy again and coming together and putting on the jersey and going out there and trying to put a good performance together for the community."
BRUMBIES (1-15): Lington Ieli, Liam Bowron, Rhys van Nek, Josh Townsend, Toby Macpherson (c), Eli Langi, TJ Talaileva, Oscar Cleary, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Ollie Sapsford, Triston Reilly
Replacements: Ewald Kruger, Finn Baxter, Darcy Breen, Tu'ukalikali Vaipulu, Darcy Fogerty, Dan Nelson, Oscar Shaw, Dylan Bretton, Jarrah McLeod, TBC
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Edwin Langi, Eamon Doyle (c), Miles Amatosero, Justice Taumoepeau, Marshall Le Maitre, Pete Samu, Teddy Wilson, Max Burey, Freedom Vahaakaolo, George Poolman, Otto Serfontein, Latrell Smiler Ah-Koing, Sid Harvey
Replacements: Oniti Finau, Isaac Kailea, Brady Dawson, Will Goddard, Tom Girle, Angus Scott-Young, Isaac Fonua, Angus Grover, Joe Dillon, Jack Hardy.
