Round Seven of Super Rugby Pacific was a standout week for one Australian team in particular, as we start to hit the halfway point of the season.
The NSW Waratahs were the big winner, taking down the ACT Brumbies in Canberra after ending their losing streak.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
However, it was tougher news for the Queensland Reds and Western Force, going down to the Hurricanes and Chiefs respectively.
Rugby.com.au breaks it down and selects its Team of the Week from the Australian teams in Round Seven.
So many choices to like from the weekend as the front-rowers got through a stack of work up-front. Robertson was a workhorse for the Force in defeat, making several big tackles in his own-goal line, recording 16 tackles.
It was a similar story for Ethan Dobbins, who helped his case for a Wallabies call-up with 17 tackles and some great carries.
Darcy Breen rounds out the team after an excellent scrummaging performance to constantly draw penalties whilst getting through his fair share of grunt work up front.
Tom Lambert, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard and Dan Botha all deserve credit for their efforts over the weekend.
Near impossible to split the Waratahs duo but Philip’s leadership and workmate proved the difference with selection over Miles Amatosero.
He is joined by Brumbies rival Lachie Shaw, whose two tries stand out, but what goes under the radar is his work around the ruck, leading either side for cleanouts (14) and ruck sets (42), to go with a breakdown and lineout steal.
Amatosero would’ve likely earned selection in any other week, but the quality was amazing this week.
Valetini and Cale are becoming as automatic selections as they come such is the level they are playing at.
Cale added to his haul of tries and steals in a tidy performance, with Valetini again bulldozing defenders for fun.
Adamson was the pick of the sevens thanks to his unreal work-rate, one of several Waratahs to reach 20 tackles.
Clem Halaholo was also impressive for the Waratahs, while Vaiolini Ekuasi was at his typical best.
Gordon stood up in a potential Wallabies shootout, outplaying Ryan Lonergan to get his side home.
The Wallaby was dynamic around the ruck with a pair of line breaks whilst dictating the kicking battle.
He partners McLaughlin-Phillips, one of few standouts on a tough afternoon for the Reds as the playmaker constantly sparked the Reds attack.
Paisami stepped up to the challenge of the Hurricanes early on and showed his playmaking with the nice pass for Isaac Henry’s try
But it was Walton who was the standout midfielder of the weekend.
The Waratah was superb through the middle, slicing the Brumbies open for a well-deserved try while shutting down their attack.
Lancaster continues to go from strength to strength in the west, torching the Chiefs in the tough conditions.
He joins his former teammates to round out the team, with Kellaway’s performance a timely reminder of his class after a tough period for the Wallaby.
Meanwhile, Harvey’s breakout debut season is in full force, with his rocket boot and ice-cool demeanour proving the difference as he nailed three key penalties for the win.
The pair also combined for a nice try in the first half to end the drought in Canberra, with Max Jorgensen also epic in the win.
1. Tom Robertson
2. Ethan Dobbins
3. Darcy Breen
4. Matt Philip
5. Lachie Shaw
6. Rob Valetini
7. Jamie Adamson
8. Charlie Cale
9. Jake Gordon
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
11. Darby Lancaster
12. Hunter Paisami
13. Joey Walton
14. Andrew Kellaway
15. Sid Harvey
