The opening round of Super Rugby AUS has delivered two cracking matches as players took their chances to impress.
The Western Force pulled off a thrilling victory away from home, downing the Queensland Reds 29-28 at Ballymore.
Watch every second of Super Rugby AUS live and on-demand via Stan Sport and Rugby.com.au.
Meanwhile, the NSW Waratahs started their title defence with a quality victory over the ACT Brumbies in Bungendore.
Rugby Australia's High Performance staff have selected their Team of the Week from Round One, naming Harry McLaughlin-Phillips as the Player of the Round.
McLaughlin-Phillips, who has been called into the Wallabies squad, kicked the winner from the sidelines in the one-point win against his old side, whilst also breaking three tackles.
He is one of four selections from the Force, making up an all-WA halves partnership with Nathan Hastie.
Wests number eight Seta Baker has been rewarded for his strong showing off the bench, helping inspire the comeback with a second-half try and a turnover, with Cottesloe lock Zak Healey rounding out the picks.
For the Reds, Australia U20 skipper Tom Robinson and George Blake were named in the pack, Robinson scoring and setting up a try in an elite performance from the son of former Wallaby Brett.
Flyer Tim Ryan was the lone Queenslander in the backline thanks to a game-high three line breaks and 125 metres, mostly coming from a long-range five-pointer.
The Waratahs have the most selections with five in the team, including centres pairing George Poolman and Otto Serfontein.
The pair was strong across the park as Poolman helped unlock the attack, whilst Serfontein scored the game-sealing try late in the game.
Skipper Eamon Doyle headlines the trio of Waratahs in the pack after leading from the front in a physical win.
Hooker Ethan Dobbins impressed on his return from injury alongside flanker Marshall Le Maitre, another star of this year’s U20 World Championship.
Former Waratah Triston Reilly was strong at fullback for the Brumbies, joined by Corey Toole, who blitzed the Waratahs all afternoon, and prop Rhys van Nek to round out the team.
- George Blake (Queensland Reds)
- Ethan Dobbins (NSW Waratahs)
- Rhys van Nek (ACT Brumbies)
- Eamon Doyle (NSW Waratahs)
- Zak Healey (Western Force)
- Tom Robinson (Queensland Reds)
- Marshall Le Maitre (NSW Waratahs)
- Seta Baker (Western Force)
- Nathan Hastie (Western Force)
- Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Western Force)
- Tim Ryan (Queensland Reds)
- George Poolman (NSW Waratahs)
- Otto Serfontein (NSW Waratahs)
- Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
- Triston Reilly (ACT Brumbies)
