It was another huge round of Super Rugby Women's action with the Western Force pulling off an incredible upset over last year's competition finalist, while the Tahs thumped the Drua in Fiji.
Read on for four super moments in Super Rugby Women's Round 2.
MILLER, STEWART COMBO OF NIGHTMARES
There's no deadlier combination in Australian rugby right now than Waratahs women's wingers Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller. Despite sitting on opposite wings, the two combined multiple times in the side's win over Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
Stewart's threats on the edge have been well known since she made her Super W debut several years ago, but it's been Desiree Miller who has made an impression in 2024 and reminded people why she made her Wallaroos debut in her rookie season last year.
Coming off her wing early, Miller sent a midfield kick pass to Stewart in an attempt to take advantage of the stretched Drua defence, and while it didn't quite come off, her presence of mind to back up the play, and regather the loose ball gave her the opportunity to cut through the splintered Fijian defence before she offloaded to Stewart for her second try of the match.
Miller's presence was always threatening, and she was soon rewarded for her efforts on the left flank with a try in the 54th minute, where she showed just how deadly she can be when given just a little bit of space down the sideline. Only minutes later she'd show off her slick kicking skills as she punched the ball downfield for Georgina Friedrichs to pounce on over the whitewash.
The Miller-Stewart combo would come together again in the final 10 minutes with Stewart working hard off her wing to give the Tahs an extra set of hands on the left flank where she'd offload to Miller for her second try of the game.
Scoring a hat-trick in the opening round and a double again in Fiji, Stewart is proving herself as the competition's most prolific try scorer while Miller continues to grow in her role, giving the Tahs one of the slickest backlines in Australian rugby.
ROLLING TO HISTORY
A much-maligned part of the game, the rolling maul has many detractors arguing for its expulsion from rugby, but for many fans a strong rolling maul is an impressive attacking weapon that adds a point of difference to the sport and can truly be a beauty to watch when implemented well.
And that's exactly what was witnessed on Saturday night when the Western Force made history claiming their first win over the Queensland Reds through the use of their very impressive maul.
After the Reds demonstrated their own forward prowess to score the opening try in the second minute with a maul try, the Force hit back with their own in the 26th minute, rumbling all the way from outside the Reds' 22 to the try line to give themselves the advantage.
It was a textbook example of a rolling maul. Staying low and tight, the Force powered down field, never wheeling or turning and giving the Reds little chance of slowing their momentum as they scrambled to try penetrate through the middle, with Canadian international Sarah Clyne crashing down for the side's second try.
They were given the chance once again the second half to put it in full effect, this time from much closer to the tryline, and while it wasn't as pretty, it was just as destructive.
Setting a lineout five metres out, reserve hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke was tested minutes after coming to the field, sending the lineout long, out the back for Michaela Leonard to set up another rolling maul. While the Reds attempted to stem their momentum and had them wheeling, they were just too solid with Heke earning the spoils for the well put together maul.
REBELS ROLL DICE BUT IT DOESN'T PAY OFF
Put to the sword last week against the Force, the Rebels came out firing in Canberra and put themselves in the perfect position to secure just their second win in 26 games. But taking a gamble and going to touch instead of attempting a penalty conversion in the final seconds backfired and saw yet another tight clash go the way of the Brumbies.
One of Super Rugby Women's toughest rivalries, the Brumbies-Rebels clash has produced several stunning results over the years including a draw in the 2022 fixture, and like so many times previously, the Rebels came oh so close to producing the upset.
With just a minute on the clock and awarded a penalty 30-metres out and 10 from the sideline, the Rebels appeared to be looking at the sticks with fly-half Cassie Siataga known for her booming boot, but instead they pointed to the sideline, trusting in their rolling maul that had secured them two tries already in the match.
Collecting the ball just inside the Brumbies' 22, their maul made just a few metres before the Brumbies put the pressure on and started wheeling them sideways. Brought down quickly, the Rebels conceded the short arm penalty and could only watch as Faitala Moleka sent the ball into the stands for the Brumbies first win of the year.
With their season only getting harder from here, the Rebels will walk away from Canberra contemplating what could have been in what could be their last season ever.
FIJI CONTINUE ADDING ANOTHER DIMENSION
Last week it was an incredible after game singing circle between the Fijian Drua and Reds following a tough hit out in Brisbane, this week it was Fiji hotel staff waiting outside for the arrival of the Waratahs side following their win over the Drua in Lautoka - the first Drua loss at home in Super Rugby Women's history.
In a hot and humid contest, Fiji locals witnessed back-to-back thrilling spectacles with the Waratahs running in 10 tries in their 62-21 thumping of the Drua following the men's golden-point heartbreak. And in return the locals put on a show for the women to celebrate their history making victory.
How good's having rugby in Fiji‼️
— Brittany Mitchell (@BrittMitchell11) March 23, 2024
The welcome back for the Tahs at their hotel after defeating Fijian Drua at home for the first time. (Via Kaitlan Leaney) #SuperRugbyW pic.twitter.com/aI2BepTm0p
Returning to their hotel late in the evening, the Waratahs were welcomed by several hotel staff holding makeshift 'Waratahs' signs with several more singing and dancing in the hotel driveway.
The moment yet again reinforces why Fiji's inclusion in the competition is so important with the Drua women given a chance to pursue their rugby dreams but also share their culture with the rugby world.