There was no rest on the weekend for Wallabies duo Matt Toomua and Tatafu Polota-Nau, who played in Leicester’s season opener against Exeter.
Toomua played 66 minutes for the Tigers after having limited Test time in the Bledisloe openers and put in a solid defensive effort in tough conditions, making 10 tackles at inside centre.
Polota-Nau came off the bench in the 52nd minute replacing Tom Youngs.
The pair will travel back to Australia and link up with the Wallabies this week ahead of the third Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks.
There were some familiar faces in the Chiefs side, with prop Greg Holmes coming off the bench in the 57th minute and Nic White starting at halfback.
Ex-Wallabies and Waratahs lock Will Skelton had an eye-catching performance for Saracens, due to his dramatic weight loss as much as anything else.
Former Wallabies back Luke Morahan got off to a winning start with new club Bristol in an upset win over Bath for the newly-promoted side.
Morahan was pivotal in the Bears’ attack, while former Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker proved a strong linkman at halfback.
Ben Tapuai had a double for Harlequins in a standout performance on his cub debut, after switching to the London club from Bath.
James Hanson crashed over for Gloucester in their first game of the season, a 27-16 win over Northampton.
Mammoth former Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro landed in Saints territory last week but is yet to pull on his new colours.
Former Super Rugby flyhalf Jono Lance provided a lighter moment in the opening round of the Premiership, packing down in the scrum midway through the Warriors win over the Wasps.
.@jonno_lance holding it down at the back of the scrum for @WorcsWarriors! How’s the shape on the man?! pic.twitter.com/ONxbDZ01ve
— Fraser Smith (@Fraser__Smith) September 2, 2018
RESULTS
Exeter 40 - Leicester 6
Gloucester 27 - Northampton 16
Worcester 20 - Wasps 21
Newcastle 21- Saracens 32
Harlequins 51 - Sale 23
PRO 14
Former Aussie Sevens coach Andy Friend couldn’t quite eke a win in his first game in charge of Connacht, with his side going down 27-26 to Glasgow.
Former Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin played at outside centre for Connacht, reuniting with former Canberra teammate Jarrad Butler in the starting side.
Joe Tomane made his Leinster debut in a nail biting 33-32 win over Cardiff, while Scott Fardy played in the second row for the reigning European champs.
Henry Speight made his Ulster debut, making 77 metres in a 15-13 win over Scarlets.
RESULTS
Connacht 26 - Glasgow 27
Cardiff 32 - Leinster 33
Ospreys 17 - Edinburgh 13
Zebre 32 - Kings 16
Munster 38 - Cheetahs 0
Ulster 15 - Scarlets 13
Dragons 17 - Benetton 21
TOP LEAGUE
A 79th-minute Christian Lealiifano drop goal handed Toyota a win in the first round of the Japanese Top League.
Lealiifano was playing his first game for the side and showed his composure to slot the last-minute three-pointer.
It took 89 minutes for Sean McMahon and Matt Giteau’s reigning champion Suntory to notch a thrilling win over the Toyota Verblitz, with a penalty try snatching the victory.
Giteau played just 29 minutes in the clash, while McMahon was yellow-carded in the 51st minute but played every minute outside of that in a typically relentless performance.
Adam Ashley-Cooper scored a try for Kobe, playing at outside centre in a win over NTT Shining Arcs.
Mike Harris played his first game for the Toshiba Brave Lupus, slotting 10 points off his own boot, but it wasn’t enough for a first-up victory.
Daniel Heenan was in the second row for Panasonic in a 15-11 win over Kubota.
RESULTS
Kobe Steelers 34 - Shining Arcs 27
Yamaha 43 - Coca Cola Red Sparks 3
Toyota Verblitz 25 - Suntory 27
NEC 8 - Toyota 9
Ricoh Black Rams 19 - Honda 34
Canon 26 - Toshiba Brave Lupus 20
Hino 33 - Munakata Sanix 3
Panasonic 15 - Kubota 11
TOP 14
Ben Mowen was at blindside flanker for Pau in a win over Toulon, with Jesse Mogg playing at fullback for his new side.
Former Reds flyhalf Jake McIntyre starred for Agen, scoring a double and 17 points in a 25-23 win over newly-promoted Perpignan.
Eto Nabuli was on the wing for Bordeaux in a loss to Stade Francais.
RESULTS
Pau 20 - Toulon 10
Castres 19 - Lyon 16
Stade Francais 20 - Bordeaux 8
Montpellier 36 - La Rochelle 14
Grenoble 20 - Toulouse 23
Agen 25 - Perpignan 23
Racing 92 17 - Clermont 40
