# 2021 Super Rugby AU season

The 2021 Super Rugby AU season (branded as Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU for sponsorship reasons) was a professional club rugby union tournament organised by Rugby Australia. Announced on 11 November 2020, the tournament was the second season of Super Rugby AU, featuring the same 5 teams from the inaugural 2020 season, and ran from 19 February to 8 May 2021. The tournament was won by the Reds, who defeated the Brumbies 19–16 in the final at Suncorp Stadium, winning their first Super Rugby AU title, and first Super Rugby competition since 2011.
The tournament ran parallel to New Zealand's 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman followed the conclusion of both seasons, a crossover tournament featuring each Australian team playing each New Zealand team once, followed by a final.

## Law variations

The 2021 season of Super Rugby AU will see changes to kick-offs and restarts, with a free kick awarded if the a kickoff has not taken place 30 seconds following the opposition scoring, a restart is kicked out on the full or if teammates of the kicker are not behind the ball. The free kick will take place at half way. These rules are similar to those that are currently used in Rugby sevens. Also the 'Golden point' law brought in during the 2020 season is tweaked so that full-time will only occur after a try is scored, rather than any form of points. Penalties and drop goals will still count towards the score during extra time, but will not end the game, with play only ending if a try is scored or the 10-minute extra time period ends. All other law changes from the 2020 season will also occur in the 2021 season.

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Reds | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 271 | 170 | +101 | 33 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 33 |
| 2 | Brumbies | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 267 | 165 | +102 | 37 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
| 3 | Force | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 148 | 193 | −45 | 15 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| 4 | Rebels | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 178 | 182 | −4 | 14 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 5 | Waratahs | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 138 | 292 | −154 | 15 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
* 4 points to the winning team
* 2 points to each team if neither team scores during extra time
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point to any team scoring three tries or more than the opposition

## Round-by-round

The table below shows the progression of all teams throughout the 2021 Super Rugby AU season. Each team's tournament points on the standings log is shown for each round, with the overall log position in brackets.
| 2021 Super Rugby AU team progression |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Qualifier | Final |
| Brumbies | 4 (2nd) | 9 (1st) | 14 (1st) | 15 (1st) | 15 (2nd) | 20 (2nd) | 24 (2nd) | 25 (2nd) | 29 (2nd) | 29 (2nd) | Won | Lost |
| Force | 0 (4th) | 0 (4th) | 4 (3rd) | 5 (4th) | 6 (4th) | 6 (4th) | 6 (4th) | 10 (4th) | 14 (3rd) | 18 (3rd) | Lost | N/A |
| Rebels | 0 (3rd) | 1 (3rd) | 2 (4th) | 6 (3rd) | 10 (3rd) | 10 (3rd) | 10 (3rd) | 11 (3rd) | 12 (4th) | 16 (4th) | N/A | N/A |
| Reds | 5 (1st) | 9 (2nd) | 9 (2nd) | 13 (2nd) | 18 (1st) | 23 (1st) | 28 (1st) | 32 (1st) | 32 (1st) | 33 (1st) | Bye | Won |
| Waratahs | 0 (5th) | 0 (5th) | 1 (5th) | 1 (5th) | 1 (5th) | 1 (5th) | 2 (5th) | 2 (5th) | 3 (5th) | 3 (5th) | N/A | N/A |
| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | Bye | DNQ |

## Matches
### Round 1

* 19 February 2021 18:45 (GMT +10)
| (1 BP) Reds | 41–7 | Waratahs |
| Try: Campbell 9' c Mafi 14' c Daugunu (2) 18' c, 71' c Droasese 80+1' c Con: O'Connor (5/5) 10', 16', 19', 72', 80+2' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 7', 32' | Report | Try: Gordon 3' c Con: Harrison (1/1) 4' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 12,213 Referee: Damon Murphy
* 19 February 2021 19:00 (GMT +8)
| Force | 11–27 | Brumbies |
| Try: Cubelli 76' m Pen: Prior (2/2) 5', 36' | Report | Try: Lolesio 21' c Simone 44' c Fines 71' c Con: Lolesio (3/3) 22', 45', 73' Pen: Lolesio (2/2) 18', 40+1' |
* HBF Park, Perth Attendance: 7,514 Referee: Graham Cooper
* Bye/s: Rebels

### Round 2

* 26 February 2021 18:45 (GMT +10)
| Reds | 23–21 | Rebels (1 BP) |
| Try: Mafi (2) 48' c, 77' c Con: O'Connor (2/2) 49', 78' Pen: O'Connor (3/4) 22', 40', 62' | Report | Pen: To'omua (6/8) 2', 7, 24', 35', 45', 70' Hodge (1/2) 53' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 10,543 Referee: Jordan Way
* 27 February 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 61–10 | Waratahs |
| Try: Valetini 8' c Hansen (3) 12' m, 56' c, 71' c Lolesio 25' c McInerney 40+2' c White 43' c L. Lonergan 63' c Banks 77' c Con: Lolesio (5/6) 9', 27', 40+3, 45', 58' R. Lonergan (3/3) 64', 72', 79' | Report | Try: Johnson-Holmes 30' c Con: Harrison (1/1) 31' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 4' |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 9,322 Referee: Nic Berry
* Bye/s: Force

### Round 3

* 5 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Waratahs | 16–20 | Force |
| Try: Porecki 5' c Con: Harrison (1/1) 6' Pen: Harrison (3/3) 14', 24', 73' | Report | Try: Lee-Warner 32' c Anstee 54' c Con: McIntyre (2/2) 33', 55' Pen: McIntyre (1/1) 37' Prior (1/1) 79' |
* Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Attendance: 4,264 Referee: Nic Berry
* 6 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 27–24 | Rebels (1 BP) |
| Try: Ikitau 20' c Penalty try 48' Banks 72' c Con: Lolesio (1/1) 22' R. Lonergan (1/1) 73' Pen: Lolesio (1/1) 5' R. Lonergan (1/1) 80+4' | Report | Pen: To'omua (8/8) 2', 7', 17', 40+1', 50', 59', 70', 77' |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 5,713 Referee: Damon Murphy
* Bye/s: Reds

### Round 4

* 12 March 2021 17:45 (GMT +8)
| (1 BP) Force | 7–10 | Rebels |
| Try: McGregor 69' c Con: Prior (1/1) 70' | Report | Try: Anderson 27' m Powell 62' m |
* HBF Park, Perth Attendance: 7,762 Referee: Graham Cooper
* 13 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 38–40 | Reds |
| Try: Samu (2) 6' c, 35' c Fainga'a (2) 13' c, 47' c Fines 71' c Con: Lolesio (4/4) 7', 15', 37', 49' R. Lonergan (1/1) 73' Pen: Lolesio (1/1) 2' | Report | Try: Vunivalu 30' c Tupou 61' c Wilson 67' c Petaia 78' c Con: O'Connor (4/4) 32', 63', 69', 79' Pen: O'Connor (4/6) 18', 23', 40', 76' |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 9,384 Referee: Nic Berry
* Bye/s: Waratahs

### Round 5

* 19 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| Rebels | 33–14 | Waratahs |
| Try: Anderson 13' c To'omua 38' c Uelese 67' c Con: To'omua (2/2) 14', 40' Hodge (1/1) 69' Pen: To'omua (3/3) 6', 26', 34' Hodge (1/1) 56' | Report | Try: Williams 77' c Maddocks 80+1' c Con: Edmed (2/2) 78', 80+2' |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 5,156 Referee: Nic Berry
* 20 March 2021 18:45 (GMT +10)
| (1 BP) Reds | 26–19 | Force (1 BP) |
| Try: McDermott 9' c Paisami (2) 16' c, 52' m Campbell 67' c Con: O'Connor (3/4) 10', 18', 69' | Report | Try: Kaitu'u 20' c Con: McIntyre (1/1) 21' Pen: McIntyre (4/4) 15', 39', 51', 56' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 12,011 Referee: Damon Murphy
* Bye/s: Brumbies

### Round 6

* 26 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 42–14 | Force |
| Try: Ikitau (2) 20' c, 26' c Neville 32' c Muirhead (2) 38' c, 70' c L. Lonergan 58' c Con: Lolesio (5/5) 21', 27', 34', 40', 59' R. Lonergan (1/1) 71' | Report | Try: Taefu 54' c Prior 65' c Con: Prior (2/2) 55', 66' |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 7,170 Referee: Nic Berry
* 27 March 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| Waratahs | 14–46 | Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Harris 53' m Pen: Harrison (3/3) 3', 6', 39' | Report | Try: McDermott 13' c Salakaia-Loto 29' c Daugunu 40' m Tupou 50' m Mafi (3) 62' c, 67' m, 77' c Con: O'Connor (2/4) 14', 31' Hegarty (2/3) 63', 78' Pen: O'Connor (1/1) 36' |
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 4,381 Referee: Graham Cooper
* Bye/s: Rebels

### Round 7

* 2 April 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| (1 BP) Waratahs | 22–24 | Brumbies |
| Try: Johnson-Holmes 22' c Harrison 65' c Ramm 80+2' m Con: Harrison (2/3) 23', 66' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 18' | Report | Try: Banks 4' m Wright 14' m Muirhead 26' c Fainga'a 34' c Con: Lolesio (2/4) 27', 35' |
* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 7,486 Referee: Graham Cooper
* 3 April 2021 19:45 (GMT +11)
| Rebels | 19–44 | Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Lomani 30' c Hodge 36' c Wells 67' m Con: To'omua (2/3) 31', 36' | Report | Try: Tupou (2) 4' c, 17' c Paisami 5' c McReight 46' c Campbell 63' m Flook 77' m Con: O'Connor (4/4) 4', 6', 18', 48' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 12', 57' |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 4,960 Referee: Amy Perrett
* Bye/s: Force

### Round 8

* 9 April 2021 19:45 (GMT +10)
| (1 BP) Rebels | 15–16 | Force |
| Pen: Hodge (1/1) 2' To'omua (4/5) 14', 22', 46', 63' | Report | Try: Anstee 76' c Con: Miotti (1/1) 78' Pen: Miotti (3/4) 16', 34', 52' |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 3,983 Referee: Damon Murphy
* 10 April 2021 19:45 (GMT +10)
| Reds | 24–22 | Brumbies (1 BP) |
| Try: Flook 50' c Petaia 65' m Con: O'Connor (1/2) 52' Pen: O'Connor (4/4) 22', 31', 70', 77' | Report | Try: Fainga'a 6' m Banks 15' c Wright 54' c Con: Lolesio (2/3) 16', 56' Pen: White (1/1) 40+1' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 19,185 Referee: Nic Berry
* Bye/s: Waratahs

### Round 9

* 17 April 2021 17:45 (GMT +8)
| Force | 31–30 | Waratahs (1 BP) |
| Try: Robertson 3' c Kaitu'u 25' m Olowofela 72' c Con: Miotti (2/3) 4', 74' Pen: Miotti (3/4) 8', 51', 80+5' Drop: Miotti 35' | Report | Try: Harris 16' c Maddocks 43' c Newsome 47' c Con: Donaldson (3/3) 17', 44', 49' Pen: Donaldson (3/3) 23', 68', 70' |
* HBF Park, Perth Attendance: 9,253 Referee: Amy Perrett
* 18 April 2021 14:00 (GMT +10)
| (1 BP) Rebels | 20–26 | Brumbies |
| Try: Hanson 8' c Powell 43' c Con: To'omua (2/2) 10', 44' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 49', 72' | Report | Try: Scott 17' c Neville 36' c Wright 40' m Kuenzle 52' c Con: R. Lonergan (2/3) 19', 38' Lolesio (1/1) 54' |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 4,755 Referee: Damon Murphy
* Bye/s: Reds

### Round 10

* 23 April 2021 17:45 (GMT +8)
| Force | 30–27 | Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Olowofela (3) 8' c, 7' m, 74' c Kaitu'u 39' m Con: Miotti (2/4) 9', 76' Pen: Miotti (2/2) 34', 56' | Report | Try: Paisami 5' c Tupou 11' c Daugunu 24' c Con: O'Connor (3/3) 5', 12', 25' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 53', 69' |
* HBF Park, Perth Attendance: 6,278 Referee: Damon Murphy
* 24 April 2021 19:45 (GMT +10)
| Waratahs | 25–36 | Rebels |
| Try: Nawaqanitawase 31' m Maddocks 38' c Tizzano 49' c Con: Donaldson (2/3) 39', 50' Pen: Donaldson (2/2) 5', 11' | Report | Try: Ili 1' c Wells 12' m Leota 43' c Gibbon 66' m Con: To'omua (2/4) 3', 44' Pen: To'omua (4/4) 17', 25', 34', 53' |
* Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Attendance: 6,996 Referee: Nic Berry
* Bye/s: Brumbies

### Qualifying final

* 1 May 2021 19:45 (GMT +10)
| Brumbies | 21–9 | Force |
| Try: Wright 36' c Banks 40+2' m Con: Lolesio (1/2) 38' Pen: Loleiso (1/1) 61' R. Lonergan (2/2) 73', 78' | Report | Pen: Miotti (3/3) 35', 46', 69' |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 8,996 Referee: Nic Berry

### Final

* 8 May 2021 19:45 (GMT +10)
| Reds | 19–16 | Brumbies |
| Try: O'Connor 80+5' c Con: O'Connor (1/1) 80+7' Pen: O'Connor (4/5) 3', 30', 51', 64' | Report Summary | Try: Banks 13' c Con: Lolesio (1/1) 14' Pen: Lolesio (3/3) 32', 40', 71' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 41,637 Referee: Nic Berry
| Reds | Brumbies |
Reds: :
| FB | 15 | Bryce Hegarty | |
| RW | 14 | Jordan Petaia | 64' |
| OC | 13 | Josh Flook | |
| IC | 12 | Hamish Stewart | |
| LW | 11 | Jock Campbell | |
| FH | 10 | James O'Connor (c) | |
| SH | 9 | Tate McDermott | 71' |
| N8 | 8 | Harry Wilson | 45' |
| OF | 7 | Fraser McReight | |
| BF | 6 | Angus Scott-Young | |
| RL | 5 | Lukhan Salakaia-Loto | |
| LL | 4 | Ryan Smith | 71' |
| TP | 3 | Taniela Tupou | |
| HK | 2 | Brandon Paenga-Amosa | 54' |
| LP | 1 | Feao Fotuaika | 54' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Alex Mafi | 54' |
| PR | 17 | Dane Zander | 54' |
| PR | 18 | Zane Nonggorr | |
| LK | 19 | Seru Uru | 71' |
| LF | 20 | Liam Wright | 45' |
| SH | 21 | Kalani Thomas | 71' |
| CE | 22 | Isaac Henry | |
| OB | 23 | Filipo Daugunu | 64' |
| Coach: |||
| Brad Thorn ||||
Brumbies: :
| FB | 15 | Tom Banks | | |
| RW | 14 | Andy Muirhead | | 35' |
| OC | 13 | Len Ikitau | | |
| IC | 12 | Irae Simone | | |
| LW | 11 | Tom Wright | | |
| FH | 10 | Noah Lolesio | | |
| SH | 9 | Nic White | | 72' |
| N8 | 8 | Rob Valetini | 61' to 72' | |
| OF | 7 | Rory Scott | | 72' |
| BF | 6 | Nick Frost | | |
| RL | 5 | Cadeyrn Neville | | 65' |
| LL | 4 | Darcy Swain | 78' | |
| TP | 3 | Allan Alaalatoa (c) | | |
| HK | 2 | Lachlan Lonergan | | 56' |
| LP | 1 | Scott Sio | | 67' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Folau Fainga'a | | 56' |
| PR | 17 | Harry Lloyd | | 67' |
| PR | 18 | Tom Ross | | |
| LF | 19 | Henry Stowers | | 65' |
| LF | 20 | Luke Reimer | 80+1' | 72' |
| SH | 21 | Ryan Lonergan | | 72' |
| FH | 22 | Reesjan Pasitoa | | |
| OB | 23 | Mack Hansen | | 35' |
| Coach: |||
| Dan McKellar ||||
* Man of the Match:
* James O'Connor
* Assistant Referees:
* Damon Murphy
* Amy Perrett
* Television match official:
* James Leckie