It's a shame that Brumbies winger Joseph Tomane is bound for France, because the NRL convert is in the form of his life. Tomane will almost certainly move to France at the end of the Super Rugby season despite a last-ditch attempt to keep him in Australian rugby. He scored two tries in the first 15 minutes against the Waratahs and completed his hat-trick just after half-time as he continued his outstanding season. He's the first player in Brumbies history to score a hat-trick of tries in one game against NSW. If he gets some room to move, Tomane can leave defenders bamboozled and he leads the Australian teams for linebreaks this year. That's why the Brumbies were so desperate to keep him even though he had signed abroad. It's believed his contract in France was proving too hard to get out of and he'll be leaving Canberra when the season finishes.

The Brumbies were rocked by news during the week that powerful No.8 Ita Vaea was forced to retire after being told by doctors his health was at risk if he continued his career. The answer to his absence could have been sitting in the second row at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. Former Brumbies hitman Fotu Auelua had a front-row seat to watching his ex-teammates take on the Waratahs and the fire still burns in the big man's rugby heart. Auelua left the Brumbies bound for England at the end of last season, but injury ended the deal and he's back living in western Sydney. Auelua trained with the Waratahs during the pre-season and was close to a deal, but injured his knee again. All he wants is a chance to prove himself and if he's fit later this year, he could use the NRC to push his claims. And let's not rule out a cameo from George Smith just yet.

Brumbies superstar David Pocock still has one match to serve on his suspension, but the Brumbies showed they can fill his sizeable shoes. The Brumbies made a mess of the NSW breakdown all night, refusing to let easy ball get out to the dangerous Waratahs back line and frustrating scrumhalf Nick Phipps. Despite missing Pocock, the Brumbies were still the better team at the breakdown. Hooker Josh Mann-Rea was a pest when he came on and Tevita Kuridrani had his hands and boots around the ball all night. NSW flanker Michael Hooper copped some criticism before kick-off, with former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer claiming Hooper was currently the fifth-best No.7 in Australia. Hooper's Wallabies spot isn't in danger and he was one of the Waratahs' best again.

The Waratahs shifted superstar Israel Folau into the No.13 jersey for the first time for a huge battle with Wallabies incumbent Tevita Kuridrani. Folau was knocked out in the first minute, but he came back to cause the Brumbies headaches all night. He looked dangerous whenever he touched the ball and there was so much attention on him in defence that the line opened up for Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley. But Kuridrani was just as impressive, in Folau's face at every opportunity and being a presence at the breakdown. If Folau wants to make a more permanent move to outside centre, he'll have to usurp Kuridrani in the Wallabies set up. But at first glance, Kuridrani still has a stranglehold on the gold jersey.