/ Apr 17, 2025
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He started the first two games, before coming off the bench behind Lawson Creighton for the next four. The 24-year-old was then left out altogether for the Moana Pasifika clash, with Jack Bowen coming off the bench at North Harbour Stadium.
Captain Jake Gordon is hoped to be back from a knee injury this week and the return of his leadership will be critical to the Waratahs re-finding their feet at Allianz Stadium on Friday night. The Tahs are undefeated at home this year, and broke a 13-game drought against the Brumbies last month to keep it going. They’re on a nine-game losing streak to the Chiefs, dating back to 2017.
Matt Philip is heading back to NSW.Credit: GETTY
Meanwhile, the Waratahs will welcome back a former member of their academy next season after Rugby Australia and NSW confirmed the signing of 31-Test lock Matt Phillip.
Phillip, 31, has been playing in Japan for Canon in Japan since leaving after the 2003 Rugby World Cup in France, but said he had been keen to come home to play for his home state and take a shot at selection for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The former Rebels and Force lock will also be eligible for Wallabies selection for British and Irish Lions series.
“I’m a Sydney boy. I was there through the academy and 20s system … “It’s a bit of a full circle for me coming back around to play for the Waratahs, a club I’m really passionate about,” Philip said.
Meanwhile, the powerhouse Waratahs women’s side will be chasing their sixth title in eight seasons on Saturday, after thumping the Western Force 54-17 in the Super Rugby Women’s semi-finals.
The Waratahs will meet arch-rivals Queensland in the grand final at North Sydney Oval, after the Reds survived a late rally to beat the Fiij Drua women 54-40 in the other semi-final at Ballymore.
Desi Miller carrying the ball for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images
NSW – the defending champions – proved too good for the Force in the second half at Leichhardt Oval, after starting strongly and seeing off a brief fightback from the visitors ahead of the halftime break, that saw the Force claw back from 19-0 to 19-12.
But three tries from Georgina Friedrichs after halftime re-asserted the NSW dominance, and the floodgates opened late. The Waratahs forward pack was dominant, and Friedrichs and winger Desi Miller were outstanding in the backs.
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But the Waratahs’ win came at a price, with injury concerns for the decider. Impressive flanker Leilani Nathan stretchered off with a serious knee injury and star Wallaroos wing Maya Stewart also came off with hamstring issues.
It will be the fourth grand final between the Waratahs and Reds in the history of Super Rugby Women’s, and the Reds have a real shot at winning their first. The Queenslanders looked slick in their rout of the Drua, with Charlotte Caslick and inside centre Shalom Sausao both catching the eye with incisive skill and power.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match ad-free, live and on demand.
He started the first two games, before coming off the bench behind Lawson Creighton for the next four. The 24-year-old was then left out altogether for the Moana Pasifika clash, with Jack Bowen coming off the bench at North Harbour Stadium.
Captain Jake Gordon is hoped to be back from a knee injury this week and the return of his leadership will be critical to the Waratahs re-finding their feet at Allianz Stadium on Friday night. The Tahs are undefeated at home this year, and broke a 13-game drought against the Brumbies last month to keep it going. They’re on a nine-game losing streak to the Chiefs, dating back to 2017.
Matt Philip is heading back to NSW.Credit: GETTY
Meanwhile, the Waratahs will welcome back a former member of their academy next season after Rugby Australia and NSW confirmed the signing of 31-Test lock Matt Phillip.
Phillip, 31, has been playing in Japan for Canon in Japan since leaving after the 2003 Rugby World Cup in France, but said he had been keen to come home to play for his home state and take a shot at selection for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The former Rebels and Force lock will also be eligible for Wallabies selection for British and Irish Lions series.
“I’m a Sydney boy. I was there through the academy and 20s system … “It’s a bit of a full circle for me coming back around to play for the Waratahs, a club I’m really passionate about,” Philip said.
Meanwhile, the powerhouse Waratahs women’s side will be chasing their sixth title in eight seasons on Saturday, after thumping the Western Force 54-17 in the Super Rugby Women’s semi-finals.
The Waratahs will meet arch-rivals Queensland in the grand final at North Sydney Oval, after the Reds survived a late rally to beat the Fiij Drua women 54-40 in the other semi-final at Ballymore.
Desi Miller carrying the ball for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images
NSW – the defending champions – proved too good for the Force in the second half at Leichhardt Oval, after starting strongly and seeing off a brief fightback from the visitors ahead of the halftime break, that saw the Force claw back from 19-0 to 19-12.
But three tries from Georgina Friedrichs after halftime re-asserted the NSW dominance, and the floodgates opened late. The Waratahs forward pack was dominant, and Friedrichs and winger Desi Miller were outstanding in the backs.
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But the Waratahs’ win came at a price, with injury concerns for the decider. Impressive flanker Leilani Nathan stretchered off with a serious knee injury and star Wallaroos wing Maya Stewart also came off with hamstring issues.
It will be the fourth grand final between the Waratahs and Reds in the history of Super Rugby Women’s, and the Reds have a real shot at winning their first. The Queenslanders looked slick in their rout of the Drua, with Charlotte Caslick and inside centre Shalom Sausao both catching the eye with incisive skill and power.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match ad-free, live and on demand.
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