Super Rugby Women's 2024 is underway as the competition started with a bang.
It began in the west with a thumping win for the Western Force over the Melbourne Rebels whilst the NSW Waratahs accounted for the ACT Brumbies in Sydney.
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The round finished in Brisbane as the Fijian Drua backed up their Final victory in 2023 with a tough victory over the Queensland Reds at Ballymore.
With this in mind, Rugby.com.au has selected the best from the Super Rugby W sides for round one.
The Brumbies were up against a star-studded Waratahs outfit in Round 1 but loose-head prop Fuesaina impressed.
She showed her ability close to the line, capitalising on some lead-up work from Tabua Tuinakauvadra to score the Brumbies sole try.
It was a tough afternoon for the Rebels at HBF Park, but Melbourne hooker Jayme Nuku showed great footwork close to the line to split the Force defence and score one of the visitors two tries.
Nuku was one of a dozen making their debut for the Rebels in Perth
The Japanese prop made a major impact for the Force after returning on exchange from Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix
Kashiwagi's scrummaging was a major weapon for the hosts in their win over the Rebels.
After missing most of the back end of 2023 through injury, Ross was industrious in her return for the Reds.
The Australian Defence Force product took on the Fijian forwards up-front while also jumping at the front of the Reds line-out.
Brumbies lock Fernandez was in charge of the ACT line-out and it was one of the few areas where the visitors challenged the Waratahs throughout the afternoon.
She won all her own ball and challenged the NSW line in defence throughout her 70-minute stint.
Drua backrower Tinanivalu stood out for the Drua and was key in securing the win in the Final rematch.
Tinanivalu scored the opening try for the visitors and was strong in defence throughout the contest
Chancellor was in great form during the WXV for the Wallaroos and she carried that form into her Waratahs return.
The former Harlequins backrower was immense, setting up one of Piper Duck’s two tries with a brilliant break.
We haven’t seen Wallaroos captain Piper Duck in action since the Waratahs’ semi-final loss to the Drua in 2023, and she made her mark in her return to the sky blue crossing for a brace of tries.
Duck led from the front as the Waratahs finished the game strong to go to the top of the ladder.
Force captain Trilleen Pomare put Sammie Wood forward as a player to watch in 2024 and she was busy in the opening match of the year
Wood helped steer the Force forwards around the park whilst providing brilliant service to the backs.
Force playmaker Ledington was the maestro behind her team’s win.
Ledington partnered with Wood and captain Pomare to guide the team around the field, helping set up a number of the Force’s tries.
Waratahs flyer Maya Stewart was at her dangerous best against the Brumbies, scoring a hat-trick in her return to the sky blue.
She burnt the Brumbies defenders on the edge constantly, backing up her standout year with the Wallaroos
Pomare was missed during the WXV tournament for the Wallaroos with work commitments keeping her from travelling with the team, but in her return to representative Rugby she didn’t miss a beat and helped guide the Force to a bonus-point win.
'G-Fred' was one of the Wallaroos' most dangerous attacking weapons in 2023 and she didn’t disappoint the home fans at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
She played a role in a number of tries while also scoring a try of her own.
Milinia lit up WXV with Fiji and continued this form into the clash at Ballymore on Sunday.
The winger ran riot and torched the Reds' backline whilst setting up a crucial try to Atelaite Buna.
Cramer hadn’t pulled on a Queensland jersey since before the pandemic, having made the move to the Waratahs before a stint in the UK with Exeter, but she was welcomed back to Ballymore with open arms and defended her heart out alongside Urwin in the wide channels to hold out the Drua on a number of occasions.
She also slotted two conversions to help keep the Reds within reach of the Fijian visitors.
