There's always an interesting line or two around the globe from our Aussies Abroad.
Last weekend was no different with a major Wallaby debut in the UK Premiership, plenty of Top 14 action and an eye-catching display from a former age-grade star in the URC.
Watch the UK Premiership live and on-demand via Stan Sports.
James O’Connor’s long-awaited Leicester debut came in the 60th minute of a 32-26 loss to Josh Kemeny’s Northampton but the 70-cap Wallaby didn’t disappoint.
O’Connor produced a line break assist, two tackle busts and a penalty goal in his maiden Tigers clash to show Leicester fans there’s plenty of life left in the Australian playmaker.
Meanwhile anticipation is building for the Exeter debut of Len Ikitau, who has begun training at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs went down 18-14 to Bristol last weekend with former Waratahs hooker Julian Heaven coming off the bench and Ikitau is expected to slot straight into the Exeter midfield.
Will Skelton was nowhere to be seen in La Rochelle’s 26-24 loss to Stade Francais, though Suliasi Vunivalu and Tolu Latu both featured.
However, Pau’s star continues to rise under Aussie skipper Jack Maddocks with the fullback running for 57m plus a linebreak and three tackle busts in their 47-24 win over Rob Leota’s Bayonne.
Tom Banks’ impressive start at Montpellier also extended into Round 6 with the former Wallaby busting three tackles in his team-high 14 carries but it wasn’t enough to run down Joey Manu’s Racing 92.
There’s a few Queenslanders representing Benetton these days with John Bryant the latest to debut in Treviso.
The Reds backrower was dynamic in his 23-minute cameo, making eight tackles and carrying strongly for 24 post-contact metres in a 41-15 win over the Lions.
Fellow Queenslander Louis Werchon also impressed with a try assist.
Elsewhere in the URC, former Australia U18s star Jack Walsh was in sparkling form for Ospreys, running for over 100 metres with six tackle busts and four line breaks to spearhead a 24-0 rout of Zebre Parma.
Walsh, 25, is a NSW Waratahs pathway product who headed north in 2020 to pursue opportunities abroad, most recently with Exeter.
