Weakened New Zealand heavyweights Canterbury Crusaders and Wellington Hurricanes lost their opening Super 14 rugby games as Australian contenders made winning starts this weekend.
Defending champions Canterbury crashed to a 34-25 defeat to Auckland Blues in Auckland, with seven leading stars rested ahead of this year's World Cup.
Wellington, who lost to the Crusaders in last year's final, fell 25-16 to Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday, were also hamstrung by the absence of their key All Blacks.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has barred 22 All Blacks from the first seven Super 14 matches this year while they undergo a World Cup conditioning program.
Otago Highlanders were the only other opening weekend Kiwi winners along with Auckland as they edged out the strengthened Western Force 8-7 in Perth on Friday.
Meanwhile New South Wales Waratahs made light of their late arrival in South Africa to down the Lions in Johannesburg's high altitude in a 25-16 win, while two-time winners ACT Brumbies registered a 21-15 away win over the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
Central Cheetahs outclassed Western Stormers 27-9 in an all-South Africa match to lead on points differential after the opening weekend, ahead of the Coastal Sharks who downed the Northern Bulls 17-3 in Durban.
In Brisbane, rugby league converts Clinton Schifcofske and Berrick Barnes starred in Queensland's grinding win over the Hurricanes, also missing their All Blacks.
Both teams scored a try in an attritional game with fullback Schifcofske, signed from Australia's National Rugby League in the off-season, proving the difference with five penalty goals and a conversion.
Flyhalf Barnes was instrumental in the Reds' sole try, kicking across field for lock Mitchell Chapman to score in the 26th minute.
RSS