While the Reds cooled their heels as the only one of the 15 teams with a bye on on the first weekend, backs Cooper and Hunt both shone after being cast into exile and unused by Queensland coach Brad Thorn last year.

Cooper provided playmaking creativity and direction lacking at the Melbourne Rebels last year, combining well with former Reds and Wallabies teammate Will Genia in the Rebels' 34-27 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night.

Former Wallaby Greg Martin rated Cooper's performance the most commanding from an Australian fly-half in three years and the talent-packed Rebels now look capable of pushing hard for a maiden finals appearance.

Hunt was so impressive in both attack and defence when starting at inside centre for the NSW Waratahs in place of rested Wallabies star Kurtley Beale that it will be hard for coach Daryl Gibson to bench him.

On his last chance in Australian rugby after a second drug-related incident made him unwanted at the Reds, Hunt - like Cooper - showed he could yet force his way back into Michael Cheika's Wallabies, at least as a back up option, ahead of this year's World Cup if he can maintain that form.

The Waratahs missed a chance to beat the Hurricanes, succumbing 20-19 when Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley pushed a late penalty attempt wide, but Gibson praised Hunt, describing his performance as strong.

Test prop Slipper, who fell out of favour at Queensland last year after testing positive for cocaine, played well for the Brumbies when starting ahead of Test incumbent Scott Sio against the Rebels.

.The main injury concern in round one was a concussion to star Brumbies and Wallabies backrower David Pocock early in the game in Canberra.

He is is in doubt to play the Chiefs next Saturday night, while wingers Toni Pulu (cheekbone) and Henry Speight (hip) were two other Brumbies casualties.

The Crusaders started their pursuit of a third straight title with a 24-22 win over a much-improved Blues outfit in Auckland with winger Manasa Mataele crossing twice.

In the other New Zealand derby, the Highlanders beat the Chiefs 30-27 in Hamilton, despite playing with 14 men for the last 15 minutes, after replacement centre Sio Tomkinson was sent off for a dangerous head high tackle on All Black lock Brodie Retallick.

In Pretoria, the Stormers were smashed 40-3 by the Bulls, following a 20-minute delay to the start after the visitors' bus was caught in traffic.

Flanker Marnus Schoeman bagged a hat-trick of tries in the Lions 25-16 victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires and the Sharks crossed six times in a 45-10 victory over the Sunwolves in Singapore.

Australian Associated Press