Angus Scott-Young has finally earned his shot at the big stage. The former Queensland Reds and Northampton Saints backrower has been named to start for NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific, marking his first appearance in the run-on side this season. The loose forward will pack down at blindside flanker for Friday night’s clash against Moana Pasifika at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, with kick-off set for 7:35 pm AEDT.
Scott-Young’s journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. After spending several seasons with the Saints in the Northern Hemisphere, where he featured in European Champions Cup finals and gained invaluable top-tier experience, the 27-year-old returned to Australian rugby ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Since arriving at the Waratahs, he’s made a handful of cameo appearances off the bench, but this week he finally gets his chance to prove he belongs in the starting XV.
The backrow trio will be completed by Charlie Gamble and Wallaby Pete Samu, with Clem Haloholo dropping to the bench to accommodate Scott-Young’s elevation. It’s a significant moment for a player who’s had to prove his worth in a competitive environment. Coach Andrew McKellar has clearly been impressed by what he’s seen in training and in the A-team fixture, deciding the time is right to unleash the physical, experienced operator.
Scott-Young’s Waratahs debut marks turning point in Super Rugby Pacific campaign
Up front, there’s continuity as the Waratahs maintain their front-row stability. Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, and Daniel Botha keep their positions, while captain Matt Philip and Miles Amatosero form the second-row pairing for another week. This consistency in the engine room should provide a solid platform for Scott-Young and the backrow to work from, particularly against Moana Pasifika’s physical challenge.
In the halves, Jake Gordon will make his 116th appearance for the Tahs, moving into the conversation around the club’s most-capped players in Super Rugby history. He’ll partner with Jack Debreczeni as the tactical axis, while Lawson Creighton returns to inside centre after missing last week’s loss to the Chiefs. Joey Walton takes the midfield spot alongside him, and the back three of Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, and Sid Harvey remains unchanged for the third consecutive round.
McKellar’s words on Scott-Young reveal a coach who values patience and proper integration. “Angus is a very reliable, physical and experienced player,” the Waratahs boss said. “It’s just taken him a few weeks to get back in the team, play an A game for us and get some good training weeks on board. I was always going to give him an opportunity at some point in time.” That kind of measured approach suggests confidence without desperation—Scott-Young has earned his chance through consistent performances, not through a crisis in the back row.
The challenge ahead won’t be easy. Moana Pasifika have proven themselves as dangerous opponents throughout the campaign, and McKellar isn’t downplaying what’s coming. “They’re big, powerful men, who have got the ability to be really dangerous off turnover ball and can go front door or they can go the back door,” he explained. “We need to get our game right, but make sure we front up and are ready for what’s going to be a really physical contest.”
For the Waratahs, this is a crucial fixture in their season trajectory. With high-profile spectators including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in attendance at Allianz Stadium, there’ll be an extra layer of attention on proceedings. It’s the kind of occasion that can galvanise a squad, and for Scott-Young, it represents a genuine opportunity to stake a claim for regular selection in what’s shaping up as a competitive Super Rugby Pacific season.