Super Rugby's opening round was a blitz of upsets, away wins, franchise milestones and - with the World Cup just around the corner - high-profile comebacks.
David Pocock, who missed most of the past two seasons with serious knee injuries, showed he will again be a frontline contender for Wallabies selection with a man-of-the match performance in the Brumbies' 47-3 thrashing of Queensland in Canberra.
"I loved it. It was a really good way to start the year," Pocock said.
The openside flanker Pocock made a game-high 11 runs and constantly slowed down the Reds' ball at the ruck, suggesting he will challenge incumbent captain Michael Hooper for the No.7 position in the Test team.
Reds recruit Karmichael Hunt had little chance to shine behind a well-beaten pack on his Super Rugby debut.
Pocock's Brumbies were the only home winners in the seven games, with perennial battlers Melbourne Rebels and Western Force scoring victories over last year's finalists.
Melbourne's 20-10 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday represented their first overseas victory, while the Force's 25-13 conquest of defending champions NSW Waratahs on Sunday was their first ever opening round win in 10 seasons.
The Force scored four tries to two, with coach Michael Foley describing his side's defence as "magnificent", though acting captain Sam Wykes refused to get carried away.
"We won that game, but now it's time to move on," lock Wykes said.
Force and Wallabies prop Pek Cowan was taken for scans after reporting tenderness in his neck following a first-half scrum collapse.
Foley said he had spoken to Waratahs and Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika on Saturday about playing a part in the Wallabies coaching setup, but talks were continuing and nothing had been finalised.
Former Wallabies captain James Horwill received a red card for foul play against the Brumbies, having twice been sin-binned in the second half for repeated infringements by his team.
SANZAR duty judicial officer Nicholas Davidson QC decided on Sunday not to impose any further sanction on the veteran lock.
The Rebels captain and No.8 Scott Higginbotham and halfback Nic Stirzaker were both cited for alleged foul play after each allegedly stamped on Crusaders and All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw.
Stirzaker admitted to the stamping and was suspended for one week, meaning he will miss miss next Friday's home game with NSW.
A decision on Higginbotham's alleged offence has still to be reached.
Upsets were also the feature of the opening round in the two South African derbies.
The Cheetahs held on for a 35-29 win over the Sharks in Durban, with each team picking up a bonus point, and the highly fancied Bulls fell 29-17 to the Stormers in Pretoria.
The Hurricanes scored two tries to one in a 22-8 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.
In the only opening round New Zealand derby, the Chiefs scored the only two tries of the game, with the returning Sonny Bill Williams having a major hand in both, as his side shaded the Blues 23-18 in Auckland.
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