The Super Rugby finals hopes of NSW Waratahs in tatters after ACT Brumbies’ hammering

Barring a massive turnaround in the final month of the regular season, the Waratahs won’t be required for the Super Rugby playoffs, let alone the grand final.

Waratahs fans can now relax.

No-one will need to cancel their ski trips this Winter.

Barring a massive turnaround in the final month of the regular season, the Waratahs won’t be required for the Super Rugby playoffs, let alone the grand final.

Hammered 40-17 by the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday, the Waratahs have still got a mathematical chance of making the semis but it’s purely academic.

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Corey Toole on his way to one of his two tries against the Waratahs. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

While unbeaten at home this season, the Waratahs haven’t managed a single win away from Allianz Stadium and that just doesn’t cut it in the world’s toughest provincial rugby competition.

Currently lying eighth, but guaranteed to drop one or possibly two more spots this weekend, it’s all over for 2025.

With two tricky home games to come against Queensland next Friday then the Crusaders before a tough double road trip, New South Wales are holding out for a miracle.

To their credit, the Waratahs didn’t throw in the towel against the Brumbies, who remain third on the ladder and Australia’s best hope of challenging the top New Zealand sides for the title after rebounding from a surprise loss to the Hurricanes last weekend.

After falling behind early they fought back to make more of a contest than the Coalition in the federal election but without ever threatening to change the result.

Corey Toole and Len Ikitau both scored for the Brumbies inside the first 10 minutes before the tight-five took over with hooker Billy Pollard (twice) and prop Allan Alaalatoa both crossing from close range.

Len Ikitau was one of the try-scorers for the Brumbies. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“It’s awesome. We were quite disappointed after last week’s performance,” Toole said.

“To win in front of our home crowd and get the bonus point. That’s unreal.

“We had a big week of training, probably the biggest week of the year in terms of defence. We were quite devastated after last week’s missed tackles and yes, I reckon we really came out of them tonight with a lot of aggression and line speed.”

Not going to be able to stop Corey Toole 🏎️#SuperRugbyPacific#BRUvWARpic.twitter.com/k4VPdTKR9z

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 3, 2025

Alaalatoa said he was delighted with the team’s bounce back.

“It feels great. The pleasing part about it was just seeing the reaction from the boys,” he said.

“We spoke hard last week about our collision, our contact areas of the game. And I thought it was a much-approved area, which probably came off the back of our preparation. So the key thing for us now is to take that into next week.”

In a beaten side, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had another strong game for the Waratahs, scoring a try and making a number of clean breaks but was matched by the Brumbies’ fullback Tom Wright.

“It’s going to be a tough trip home,” Waratahs captain Jake Gordon said.

“But we’ve got to sort of get on with this pretty quickly and move on to a game which traditionally is a really good game for us and one we get really excited for.

“As you’ve seen at home we’ve been really tough to beat there and we’ve just got to continue with that momentum at home.”

Originally published as The Super Rugby finals hopes of NSW Waratahs in tatters after ACT Brumbies’ hammering