The Queensland Reds apart, there was success and cause for early optimism among Australia's Super Rugby franchises, but also plenty of room for improvement.
A Melbourne Rebels starting side sparked by former Queensland halfback Will Genia and containing several ex-Western Force players, punished the ill-disciplined Reds 45-19 in their season opener in Melbourne on Friday.
Saturday brought wins for the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs against overseas opposition, an outcome rarely experienced by Australian sides last year.
Neither performance was totally convincing, as the Brumbies trailed the Sunwolves 19-8 before winning 32-25 in Tokyo, while the Waratahs relinquished the lead five times before an after-the-siren try from Ned Hanigan broke a tie for a 34-27 home victory over the Stormers.
And there is no real indication that the Australian teams are yet ready to bridge the gulf in class with New Zealand teams, with the many errors in the Rebels v Reds clash in stark contrast to the Highlanders v Blues thriller in Dunedin which preceded it.
It was a rocky start for new Reds' coach Brad Thorn, whose young side were reduced to 13 men at one stage.
New captain Scott Higginbotham was sent off for a silly dangerous shoulder charge after just nine minutes and lock Lukhan Tui was probably lucky to only get a yellow card for a tip tackle on Genia, for which he was later also cited.
"They're a young group and they fought really well and I was quite proud of them, we just need to tidy up here and there," Thorn said.
Genia showed what an asset he'll be for the Wallabies this year as he gave the Rebels direction and leadership they needed, underlining what the Reds missed when unable to squeeze him onto their roster on return from France.
"'I'm pleased he's playing for us and not for them," Rebels' coach Dave Wessels said.
Melbourne's new-look side made some early errors, but they piled on three tries when the Reds were two men down.
They tallied franchise records for points and tries.
"To start the first game of the year with a new group and win it with the most number of points ever scored it's something to celebrate," Wessels said.
"But most of our conversation in the dressing room was about how much we need to improve."
The Waratahs scored four tries to three against the Stormers, with fullback Israel Folau nabbing a spectacular five-pointer after a trademark aerial grab and 35-metre run.
Wallabies and former Reds lock Rob Simmons was sin-binned for a lineout infringement and will miss the Waratahs next two games overseas after being ruled out on Sunday with a quadriceps tear.
The Brumbies scored five tries in Tokyo, but their joy at winning was tempered by a leg injury to promising backrower Rob Valetini, which could keep him out of next Friday's game against the Reds in Brisbane.
Elsewhere there were were two high-scoring derbies in New Zealand.
Defending champions the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 45-23 in Christchurch the night after the Highlanders shaded the Blues 41-34 in Dunedin.
In South Africa, the Bulls squeezed past the Hurricanes 21-19 in Pretoria and the Lions scored seven tries in a 47-27 thumping of the Jaguares.
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Australian Associated Press
