Rugby review: Benji Marshall's debut, France's Six Nations stunner and more

BENJI Marshall's debut, Kurtley Beale's return, France's Six Nations stunner - we review the weekend's rugby action.

BENJI Marshall's debut, Kurtley Beale's return, France's Six Nations stunner - we review the weekend's rugby action from around the globe.

BENJI DEBUTS FOR BLUES BUT IT'S ALL A BLUR

News_Image_File: Benji Marshall looks to offload against the Hurricanes.

It was the most-anticipated debut from a code-hopping former rugby league player in … well at least a year.

Ex-Wests Tigers NRL star Benji Marshall played his first game of rugby in more than a decade when he ran out for the Blues in their Super Rugby trial against the Hurricanes in Masterton.

There were no spectacular solo tries or freakish flick-pass assists, but all involved were happy with Marshall's 40-minute hit-out - described largely as solid - in the 38-35 loss.

Just don't ask the man himself, who called the shots from flyhalf for the Blues, to tell you what happened.

"Bit of a blur, to be honest," was his succinct summation of the match.

Next up for Marshall, it's a return to Sydney to take on the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.

ENCOURAGING COMEBACKS FOR WALLABY ACES

News_Image_File: Scott Higginbotham is wrapped up. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Kurtley Beale, Scott Higginbotham, Wycliff Palu and David Pocock are all established Test stars yet to see game time under Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie.

Injury ruined at least the second half of 2013 for each of the quartet, with star flanker Pocock's year lasting just three games before he had to undergo a knee reconstruction.

But McKenzie would have been happy with reports that all four were looking good as they returned to action in Super Rugby trials over the weekend.

Pocock skippered the Brumbies for the opening 40 minutes of their loss to the Highlanders in Queenstown, while Tahs stars Beale and Palu had a tough hit-out against Higginbotham's Rebels in Albury.

Most importantly, all four came through their comebacks unscathed.

MATFIELD BACK RUNNING WITH BULLS

So the rumours were true: Victor Matfield is back.

The Springboks great's comeback had been talked up for a couple of months, but it wasn't until the weekend that he officially signed on to return to Super Rugby action with the Bulls.

And he hasn't mucked around. Matfield got straight down to business, coming off the bench in the Bulls' trial clash with the Stormers.

The towering lock played 30 minutes and was reported to have had an impact for the Pretoria-based outfit in the 26-19 loss in Polokwane.

News_Rich_Media: France have begun their Six Nations campaign with a bang, defeating England 26-24 in Paris.

GAEL FORCE WINS IT FOR FRANCE

Mark down this name, Wallabies fans: Gael Fickou.

There has been hype over France's teenage centre for some time, and he showed just why at the weekend with a stunning late try to lift his side to a thrilling win over England in their opening Six Nations encounter.

Fickou, who stands at 189cm and weighs 90kg, has been talked up as a future superstar and we can expect to see his star continue to rise over the next month in the Six Nations following his heroics at Stade de France.

We should also get a good look at him up close later this year, with the Wallabies hosting France over three Tests in June.

News_Image_File: Gael Fickou dives over to score the winning try for France.

Meanwhile, we pointed out prior to the tournament that France has won every Six Nations competition that has immediately followed a British and Irish Lions tour in the professional era.

While it was anything but convincing, Les Bleus got off to the perfect start in Paris with that 26-24 result over England. Will history repeat?

Standing in their way are back-to-back defending champions Wales, who got their quest for a hat-trick of Six Nations titles off to a positive start with a 23-15 triumph over Italy.

Ireland, hoping to send Brian O'Driscoll out a winner, will be another obstacle after opening with a thumping 28-6 win over Scotland.