WOLLONGONG -- Super Rugby's first ever double-header was played on Friday as Wollongong hosted both the Brumbies-Sunwolves and Waratahs-Chiefs Round 6 clashes.
The Brumbies were far too strong for the Sunwolves in the day's opening encounter, before the Chiefs exploded after halftime to run out resounding 51-14 winners over the Tahs.
Read on as we review a first for the competition, even if it was brought about by the onset of the coronavirus and travel restrictions in Japan.
The Brumbies' depth may actually be better than last year
Given the quality of personnel the Brumbies farewelled at the end of 2019, it was reasonable to think their squad might be tested in 2020. Not so much early in the season, but perhaps later in the year when the rigours of week-to-week competition and the resulting injuries began to set in.
But the two-time Super Rugby champions instead look to be in a fine position as we approach the middle third of the season.
In flanker Will Miller, scrum-half Ryan Lonergan, lock Murray Douglas and even Caderyn Neville -- who has returned to Super Rugby after a few years away -- the Brumbies have some talent plugging the holes left by guys like David Pocock, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Christian Lealiifano and others. And the addition of Solomone Kata means they are flush with outside back cover, alongside Toni Pulu, Tom Wright and Andy Muirhead.
Miller and Lonergan were particularly impressive in the 33-point win over the Sunwolves, the duo responsible for the Brumbies' first two tries while Lonergan added five conversions in what was a classy display in his first run-on start.
Joe Powell may have some trouble reclaiming the No. 9 jersey, particularly given Noah Lolesio hasn't exactly been reliable from the kicking tee so far this season.
Next week's Miller vs. Hooper showdown should be a beauty
Will Miller in some ways perfectly personifies what the Brumbies have been about for the last 25 years. Stuck behind Michael Hooper at the Waratahs, Miller was never going to wear the sky blue No. 7 jersey while ever the Wallabies captain was fit and healthy.
He enjoyed the odd game at No. 6 or when Hooper may have been forced to sit out due to Wallabies rest weeks, but Miller was always going to play second fiddle in Sydney and thus packed up his kit and headed for Canberra.
And we're finally getting a sense of just how skillful a player Miller really is as a result.
The 27-year-old was everywhere against the Sunwolves on Friday afternoon; he was on the ball at the breakdown; he popped up as a link man in attack; he added his side's second try after running onto a nice inside ball and also made a perfect 10 of 10 tackles.
"(He was) very good [today] and I thought he was excellent against the Chiefs [as well]," McKellar said of Miller. "He brings an on-ball presence but I think what is really is underrated is his attacking game; he's one of those guys who pops up in the right areas. He played well."
Providing Hooper pulls up okay from the Waratahs' game with the Chiefs, watching he and Miller go head-to-head, almost in a master-against-apprentice scenario, will be must-watch television for any Australian rugby fan come Sunday week.
Give us more rugby like that
While the Brumbies-Sunwolves clash was in no way short on open attacking rugby, the second match of Friday night's doubleheader really set WIN Stadium alight.
Two teams keen to use the ball, who executed skills at speed and who were also prepared to chance their arm from inside their own half; that is the kind of rugby supporters want to see and which should have broadcasters reaching deeper into their pockets than what perhaps they were originally prepared.
The Chiefs played some sparkling rugby inside the first 20 minutes against the Waratahs; Aaron Cruden's cross-kick for winger Sean Wainui a real highlight before Shaun Stevenson at last secured the reward his team deserved when he finished off a crisp backline sequence in the left-hand corner.
Then it was the Waratahs' turn. For the second half of the first 40, NSW assumed the ascendancy with some wonderful interplay between backs and forwards; a delightful inside ball from Karmichael Hunt that put Kurtley Beale over, and a fair amount of luck when the inside centre had the ball jolted free of his grasp and into the hands of Jack Dempsey.
It was rugby of the highest quality that even the harshest critic would have found trouble finding a fault with. Even when Angus Gardner pinged the Waratahs with a 6-1 penalty count inside the first 25 minutes, the game was still flowing beautifully.
Unfortunately for the Waratahs fans in attendance, there was only ever one side in it after the break.
The Chiefs had another gear that the Waratahs didn't
The style of rugby that NSW are playing under new coach Rob Penney is always going to leave them vulnerable around the breakdown, so too the fact they are probably one big ball-carrying body short in the forwards.
What Penney would give for a ball-carrying presence like Chiefs' No. 8 Pita Sowakula who exploded with consecutive carries from the kick-off and was generally a menace around the breakdown for the remainder of the first half and beyond.
When the two teams returned after the break, and Waratahs fly-half Will Harrison failed to find touch with his clearing kick, the Chiefs immediately took control of the match and were never headed thereafter.
But Brad Weber's brilliant sniping try, which caught a jogging Harry Johnson-Holmes off guard, and Shaun Stevenson's devilish flick pass to his halfback a minute later both came as a result of earlier Waratahs turnovers.
The lateral nature of the Waratahs' game means they are always going to be vulnerable on multi-phase sequences; the Chiefs waited for their opportunities and then flooded the breakdown when they did arrive to dominate the collision area throughout the match.
And the Waratahs must learn from it. Certainly Waratahs coach Rob Penney wasn't mincing words when it came to addressing his side's second-half performance where they conceded 38 unanswered points.
"Very concerning. How does that happen? We witnessed it ... and we know the Chiefs have got some strong players and we were [down a few] but I don't want to make any excuses for the group we've got," Penney said.
"I think there was six clean drops in that second half where we just turned over the ball inexplicably and we've got good players doing it; through the hands, off the chest and straight into a Chiefs player to allow them to attack.
"That happens through a bit of pressure, I guess, but it's not acceptable and it's just embarrassing; it's really tough on our supporters and the people who believe in these boys and want them to do well. It's just not acceptable."
The visitors can meanwhile condemn their shock loss to the Brumbies at home a fortnight to ancient history. They are very much a part of the elite teams in the competition and will take some beating come finals time.
And you could never tire of watching Stevenson's pass to Weber, either.
Waratahs have another promising talent in James Ramm
Not too many people would have heard of James Ramm before he made his debut, and scored a try to boot, against the Lions last week.
But he certainly looks like a player worth keeping an eye on in the coming years.
Ramm has plenty of speed, knows how to kick a ball and looks like a genuine winger who understands where he needs to be positionally.
The Waratahs will learn further hard lessons this year, but in persisting with Ramm and other youngsters like Will Harrison and Angus Bell they will hopefully reap dividends down the track.
At the other end of the spectrum is Karmichael Hunt. While not everything the former NRL star did was effective, his pass for Kurtley Beale's try and his genuine hard edge in the midfield were noteworthy for the Waratahs on Friday night.
He may yet have something to offer Wallabies coach Dave Rennie in the short term.