A rugged opening round of the Super 14 suggested it isn't all doom and gloom for Australia heading towards the 2007 World Cup.

Only the Western Force's deflating one-point loss to the Highlanders prevented Australian teams enjoying just a second first-round sweep of their matches in 12 seasons of Super rugby.

NSW, the Brumbies and Queensland overcame challenging hurdles in South Africa, New Zealand and at home, respectively, to suggest they will all be competitive this year.

"You can't be unhappy with the form of any of the Australian sides on February 2," said Wallabies coach John Connolly.

"The Force will improve a great deal on that performance, the Brumbies have got good combinations, NSW had a good effort first up in Africa and Queensland had a good win."

Just possibly New Zealand will live to regret resting so many leading All Blacks from the first eight rounds ahead of the World Cup if the Australian teams take full advantage to build form and momentum in an important season.

But while Australian fans can be happy with promising signs in the wake of the Wallabies' sour end to 2006, rugby aficionados may feel aggrieved at the lack of enterprising and free-flowing rugby.

For the first time in the 12-year history of Super rugby, no team clinched a bonus point for scoring four tries in the first round, with the matches reaping an average of three tries.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper, stopped from unleashing his dangerous backline by a combative Reds pack, laid blame on inconsistent refereeing for making the breakdown a lottery and "blight on the game".

"It's difficult for the players," he said. "You drill them to attack the ball on the ground and there's different interpretations when a ruck is a ruck and when a ruck isn't a ruck."

The Brumbies, 21-15 victors over the much-fancied Chiefs in Hamilton, were easily the most impressive Australian team with a skillful display.

Despite needing a late penalty goal from former Red Julian Huxley to nail the win, the Brumbies controlled virtually the entire match.

Filling in for Stephen Larkham, Huxley was praised by Connolly as "arguably the player of the round" for his playmaking control and big and accurate kicking game.

Bulked-up second-rower Mark Chisholm led the charge for the Brumbies pack while George Smith, Stirling Mortlock and George Gregan, in a sharp return, featured prominently.

In contrast to the Brumbies ability to gain quick, quality ball and desire to spread the ball wide, the Reds forwards happily kept it tight and pounded the Hurricanes pack to pick and drive their way to a 25-16 upset.

Hugh McMeniman matched fellow Wallabies lock Chisholm in a barnstorming display while league recruit Clinton Schifcofske took toll of the Hurricanes' ill-discipline in their own half by kicking five penalty goals.

The Reds won despite being reduced to 14 men twice as SANZAR's edict for referees to punish repeated infringements was heeded with the sin-bin used in six of the seven games.

Waratah wonderkid Kurtley Beale enjoyed a successful debut off the bench with a classy cameo at five-eighth as NSW scored a hard-fought 25-16 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

The three-tries-to-one victory, featuring fine games by Phil Waugh and Josh Valentine, vindicated coach Ewen McKenzie's call to fly over to the Republic just two days before the match.

Despite his best efforts, Matt Giteau endured a frustrating debut for the Force as they fumbled their way to an 8-7 loss to the Highlanders.

Giteau stood out head and shoulders above his teammates, particularly fellow Wallaby recruit Drew Mitchell who had a nightmare match, as the Perth-based team failed to break through for their first win at home despite the big-spending off-season.

The former Brumby started at inside centre but moved to five eighth when try scorer James Hilgendorf departed injured and may well find himself there again when they play the Stormers in Cape Town in round two.

David Nucifora could lay claim to being the most pleased Australian just one week into the competition after his Blues bumped their arch-rivals, the Crusaders, 34-25 in the match of the round in Auckland.

The Durban-based Sharks suggested they would be South Africa's strongest hope with a 17-3 win over the Bulls in Pretoria, thanks to two tries to classy winger JP Pietersen, while the Cheetahs humbled the Stormers 27-9.

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