The Queensland Reds apart, there was success and cause for early optimism among Australia’s Super Rugby franchises, but also plenty of room for improvement.
A Melbourne Rebels starting side sparked by former Queensland halfback Will Genia and containing several ex-Western Force players, punished the ill-disciplined Reds 45-19 in their season opener in Melbourne on Friday.
Saturday brought wins for the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs against overseas opposition, an outcome rarely experienced by Australian sides last year.
Neither performance was totally convincing, as the Brumbies trailed the Sunwolves 19-8 before winning 32-25 in Tokyo, while the Waratahs relinquished the lead five times before an after-the-siren try from Ned Hanigan broke a tie for a 34-27 home victory over the Stormers.
And there is no real indication that the Australian teams are yet ready to bridge the gulf in class with New Zealand teams, with the many errors in the Rebels v Reds clash in stark contrast to the Highlanders v Blues thriller in Dunedin which preceded it.
It was a rocky start for new Reds’ coach Brad Thorn, whose young side were reduced to 13 men at one stage.
New captain Scott Higginbotham was sent off for a silly dangerous shoulder charge after just nine minutes and lock Lukhan Tui was probably lucky to only get a yellow card for a tip tackle on Genia, for which he was later also cited.
“They’re a young group and they fought really well and I was quite proud of them, we just need to tidy up here and there,” Thorn said.
Genia showed what an asset he’ll be for the Wallabies this year as he gave the Rebels direction and leadership they needed, underlining what the Reds missed when unable to squeeze him onto their roster on return from France.
“‘I’m pleased he’s playing for us and not for them,” Rebels’ coach Dave Wessels said.
Melbourne’s new-look side made some early errors, but they piled on three tries when the Reds were two men down.
They tallied franchise records for points and tries.
“To start the first game of the year with a new group and win it with the most number of points ever scored it’s something to celebrate,” Wessels said.
“But most of our conversation in the dressing room was about how much we need to improve.”
The Waratahs scored four tries to three against the Stormers, with fullback Israel Folau nabbing a spectacular five-pointer after a trademark aerial grab and 35-metre run.
Wallabies and former Reds lock Rob Simmons was sin-binned for a lineout infringement and will miss the Waratahs next two games overseas after being ruled out on Sunday with a quadriceps tear.
The Brumbies scored five tries in Tokyo, but their joy at winning was tempered by a leg injury to promising backrower Rob Valetini, which could keep him out of next Friday’s game against the Reds in Brisbane.
Elsewhere there were were two high-scoring derbies in New Zealand.
Defending champions the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 45-23 in Christchurch the night after the Highlanders shaded the Blues 41-34 in Dunedin.
In South Africa, the Bulls squeezed past the Hurricanes 21-19 in Pretoria and the Lions scored seven tries in a 47-27 thumping of the Jaguares.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
If the Reds don't improve, maybe Thorn should pull the jersey back on.
Tony
Guest
Pity ..
Ex force fan
Guest
Chris, I hope you at least were one of the 10,025 and not the almost 5 million that did not go
Taylorman
Guest
Canes played away on the high veldt vs a team that has a new ex AB coach. If there was one potential upset this weekend, that was it. Besides they lost to the Brumbies first up big time when they won it so nothing in that. SA Super sides seem to be very underrated.
piru
Roar Rookie
Potato Dutton can't deport Aussie citizens... yet
piru
Roar Rookie
To be fair, sitting here in Melbourne it was a pretty good start. You're welcome
Bludger
Guest
I'd give Thorn a month and if the Reds do not improve he needs to have his visa cancelled and packed aboard the next 'Con Air' flight back to NZ.
Stu B
Guest
I'm definitely not a reds fan but to be fair under the circumstances an inexperienced team of 13 and 14 men did show some resilience under the circumstances or maybe the Rebels are just average.I'm sure the Highlanders in that situation would have clocked up 70 + points
John R
Roar Guru
Hard done by? They killed the ball 4 times trying to 'intercept' and nary a card in sight.
Chris
Guest
To be fair, sitting here in Melbourne it was a pretty good start.
mania
Guest
"And there is no real indication that the Australian teams are yet ready to bridge the gulf in class with New Zealand teams' ...except for maybe the hurricanes. cmon canes get it togther
Ex force fan
Guest
"...a decent Superugby start" - decent and Superugby in the same sentence? The rugby public embraced the new Superugby competition and format, packing the stadiums and capitalizing on he opportunity to watch rugby union when nothing else was on. The days of mailing free tickets on Thursdays are over, as tens of thousands turned up on to the country's biggest dress-up parties - curiously most dressed up like empty seats. The better pay, largers squad sizes and concentration of players are paying off as Australians teams is expected to provide the majority of finalist - the Bleddisloe is almost in the bag. The difficulties of the 2017 is just a distant memory, to be exact 3,919 km from the game played in Sydney and 3,407 km from Melbourne. In this corner Rugby Australia is still preventing loyal rugby fans from watching their team play. What a decent start!
Gepetto
Guest
The Stormers have a strong scrum and the worst lineout I have ever seen. How can a hooker throw the ball five metres beyond the end of a 4 man lineout . The Waratahs had watched his earlier abysmal attempts and took possession with ease and made the Stormers pay. It was a ridiculous way to end the game .. I suspect sub-continent bookmakers may have been involved.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
The stormers led that game for a total of 2 mins, from min 15 to 17. It was always the Waratahs edging out then the stormers chasing them back.
Paul D
Guest
Stormers hard done by? How exactly? They may have been their own worst enemy at the end but they certainly weren't hard done by. They should have had a man in the naughty chair at least once for knock downs.
Ballymore Brumby
Roar Pro
The Reds were awful, Thorn should throw on the skippers arm band... but anyway. It’ll be a long season, with not many bright spots. Full credit to the Rebs though and what Wessels have pulled together. The Brumbies were very lucky to win in Japan, the final score didn’t reflect most of the game and it certainly means that the Australian teams will have to stand up and pay attention to the Sunwolves. The Waratahs were jammy winners, the Stormers were hard done by and the draw would have been a fair result for that match.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I thought the Crusaders/Chiefs game was a scrappy, error riddled affair, the norm for most of the games to date. The Highlanders Blues game was no exception but it definitely looked like the 2 teams had it together better with less errors and good combo's. It is still early and all teams will get better, it is just a question of by how much compared the the opposition sides.
Joe King
Guest
Kiwi teams are still the benchmark, and full respect to them. If our Aussie teams could play rugby like they do, we'd all be pretty happy. Still, a nice start for most of the Aussie teams.