Welcome back to Aussies Abroad - your one-stop shop for all the best Australian performances in overseas competitions.
This week, rugby.com.au turns its lens to France's Top 14 competition with a new season and plenty of Wallabies to watch out for across Round One.
Seven-time Wallabies flyer Jack Maddocks was the hero for Pau after scoring a 74th minute matchwinner against Castres on the road.
Maddocks, who currently captains Pau, steered his side home 17-15 in dramatic fashion with a diving effort in the top left corner to secure a rare away victory.
Former Australian Schools and U20 flanker Reece Hewat also featured for Pau in his return from suspension.
22-cap Wallaby Tom Banks was the headline act for Montpellier in his Top 14 debut after signing with the French powerhouse following his long stint with Japan's Honda Heat.
Banks made 11 carries and scored a late try in their 27-17 loss to Toulon, with fellow Wallaby Jordan Uelese also featuring for Montpellier.
Elsewhere, teenage prop Lehopa Leota showed promise despite a torrid tighthead assignment for Racing 92 in their 32-7 loss to Lyon - a game in which Joey Manu also starred for the Parisian club - while Joe Powell's recently promoted US Montauban suffered a 47-24 defeat to Stade Francais.
The evergreen Rob Simmons continues to deliver at lineout time for Clermont (five wins in 34 minutes) but couldn't get his side home against reigning champions Toulouse while Kane Douglas and Suliasi Vunivalu's La Rochelle went down to Bordeaux.
Stay tuned for more Aussies Abroad featuring England's Premiership and the United Rugby Championship with Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Italian and South African clubs set to kick off later this month.
