The First Nations & Pasifika XV fell just short of one of rugby's great Lions upsets but there's no denying a star was born on Tuesday night.
Toutai Kefu's side shone brightly at Marvel Stadium in a 24-19 thriller against the British & Irish Lions with the likes of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Charlie Gamble stealing headlines and pushing their Test claims.
Get your tickets to see the Wallabies tackle the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday.
However, the most stirring performance came from an unfamiliar name - 21-year-old Yuin man Jarrah McLeod.
The former Australia U20s centre hailing from Nowra still juggles a labouring job with Brumbies academy training and was a surprise inclusion in Kefu's matchday 23 to face the Lions.
Fewer still would've predicted a 40-minute midfield stint that yielded seven carries and huge post-contact metreage against Owen Farrell and Jamie Osborne.
"What a remarkable performance from a 21-year-old who hasn't even made his Super Rugby debut … (McLeod) was incredible with his carries and his defence," Stan Sport host Nick McCardle told viewers.
Speaking with rugby.com.au post-game, McLeod admitted he wasn't expecting to come on so early but relished the opportunity to play in front of family on rugby's biggest stage.
"When David (Feliaui) had to go for a HIA they were like, 'mate, you're on, take your bib off' and I was just like, 'oh, OK, it's getting serious now'," McLeod said.
"But I just went in just thinking it was a normal game. They're a top quality side … but I just played the way I wanted to play.
"Before I ran out half time, Andy (Muirhead) just said 'you're a strong ball carrier, just go out there, do your thing, don't worry about all the pressure and all that.'
"So that just took a lot of energy off me and I just started playing.
"(The family) travelled from Nowra all the way to Lake Tyers - I think it's about an eight hour drive - and then they stayed there, drove in to Melbourne and drove back. I'm so grateful they came up and it means a lot to me.
A dual-code athlete before moving to Canberra and linking up with the Brumbies academy, McLeod now shapes a contender for Len Ikitau's vacant #13 jersey when the Wallaby heads to Exeter next season.
"October I'll be full-time and at Brumbies now for another two years now," McLeod said.
"I build decks at the moment, just like a little labour work. It's tough, but you've got to get through it.
"I'm just there to put my hand up for any spot. I can play 13, 12, wherever they want me to, I'll just slide straight into it and I'm happy to play wherever."
Running out for the inaugural First Nations & Pasifika XV will rank among McLeod's career highlights for years to come and he's joined the legion of players backing its addition to the Australian rugby calendar.
"It means a lot to put that jersey on. You get to carry my people, my mob, people in Australia as well, especially the brothers in the Pacific," he said.
"It makes the younger kids look up to us and be like, 'I want to be like them' and come join footy and try to get into union.
'I hope (First Nations & Pasifika XV) does stick around and I hope we put enough of a show on to make it stick around for when the Lions do come back again for the younger generations to come through."
