Super Rugby Pacific 2026 Team of the Week: Looking at the best Australian performers from Round Nine

Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 6:00 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Filipo Daugunu's 76' Try in the Queensland Reds clash with Western Force #SuperRugbyPacific

Round Nine of Super Rugby Pacific was a near clean sweep for the Australian teams in an entertaining round of action.

The ACT Brumbies started the week with a gutsy win over the Highlanders, with the Queensland Reds upsetting the Crusaders.

Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.

Meanwhile, the Western Force was a whisker away from defeating the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, missing a late minute penalty.

Rugby.com.au selects its team of the week from the Australian sides in Round Nine.

Front Row: Aidan Ross (Queensland Reds), Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Misinale Epenisa (both Western Force)

The Western Force front-rower were dominant in defeat, easily getting their upper hand over the Fijian Drua.

Epenisa was the standout, scoring an early try and nearly nabbing a second, with his work close to the line impactful for the visitors, while Paenga-Amosa was excellent in defence.

Ross stops the all-Force shutout after a tidy defensive performance in his extended 58-minute stint.

Second Row: Jeremy Williams (Western Force) and Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies)

A host of second-rowers to pick from but Williams and Frost get the nod.

Williams did excellently to drive over for a crucial try, controlling the lineout and pinching a steal.

Meanwhile, Frost was tidy across the park (even if he found himself in the thick of a controversial try).

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Franco Molina were both superb for their respective teams.

Back Row: Rob Valetini, Rory Scott (both ACT Brumbies) and Vaiolini Ekuasi (Western Force)

Valetini and Scott were involved in plenty of the grunt work during their important win.

The two noticed up double-digit carries and tackles, with Valetini making a monster 87 metres.

Ekuasi was a strong ball carrier throughout the 80 minutes, notching a team high for carries (16), metres (119) and post-contact metres (79).

Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight deserve mention after producing Test-quality outings in their win.

Halves: Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies) and Ben Donaldson (Western Force)

Lonergan was at his typical best, celebrating his 100th game with the opening try.

He partners with Donaldson, whose attacking game was strong, even if the boot didn’t follow.

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips was just edged out, almost doing enough in his 37 minutes on the park.

Centres: Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook (both Queensland Reds)

The Reds duo take their place in the team once again after a stellar night.

Paisami has been brilliant and was a damaging threat against a pair of All Blacks in David Havili and Leicester Fainga’anuku, breaking five tackles.

Flook was elusive with a pair of line breaks and almost set up Jock Campbell as he came out with a point to prove, as he prepares to leave for Italy.

Outside Backs: Tim Ryan, Filipo Daugunu and Jock Campbell (all Queensland Reds)

The Reds deserve the clean sweep after all three outside backs lit up Suncorp Stadium.

Daugunu was the pick of the round after terrorising the Crusaders in all aspects, including nabbing the winner late in the contest.

Ryan looked at his electric best and caused Sevu Recce a handful, with Campbell almost finishing off a well-worked try, only to be denied right at the goal-line.

He narrowly beats out Corey Toole, who made good use of his limited opportunities in Dunedin.

Rugby.com.au's Super Rugby Pacific Australian Team of the Week Round Nine

1. Aidan Ross

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Misinale Epenisa

4. Jeremy Williams

5. Nick Frost

6. Rob Valetini

7. Rory Scott

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi 

9. Ryan Lonergan

10. Ben Donaldson

11. Tim Ryan

12. Hunter Paisami

13. Josh Flook

14. Filipo Daugunu

15. Jock Campbell

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