Selection tweaks and commentary hint at growing confidence in Australian Super Rugby Pacific sides

We're nearly a month into the new Super Rugby Pacific competition and we've already seen enough to make the broad judgements on where each of the Australian sides sit.

Certainly, the Queensland Reds and Brumbies continue to set the benchmark – as just about everyone expected they would – and their unbeaten start to 2022 only underlines this.

The Reds were clinical in getting away from the Western Force in the first half last week in Perth before fly half James O'Connor turned on a second-half masterclass to seal a comfortable win.

The Brumbies always had the NSW Waratahs' measure in Canberra and though 27-20 makes it look like the 'Tahs put up a willing fight, two tries in the last 22 minutes probably gloss over the fact the Brumbies had the game well in hand with half an hour to play.

But both the Force and Waratahs have made crucially important improvements in key aspects of their game this season and it's already fuelling a belief that their respective form lines are a bit better than their record of one win from three matches show.

That both teams are sitting in the top six doesn't hurt this belief, either.

The Melbourne Rebels, however, are in a bit of a bind at the moment, although their horrendous injury toll appears to be easing, which will make a considerable difference to the quality of the team they can put onto the field.

The Rebels were simply outplayed last week on the Sunshine Coast, becoming the first team to be defeated by the Fijian Drua, who showed that they too had learned plenty of lessons over the opening rounds.

The Rebels will welcome some of their cavalry back to face the Brumbies, with Wallabies 2021 rookie of the year Andrew Kellaway returning, and with a new contract to the end of 2024 in his back