There was greater substance in the result for NSW Waratahs in a determined 19-13 home win against Western Force to open their Super Rugby season.

Tahs trailed the Western Australian side 13-9 at the halftime break in Sydney, but lifted in heavy conditions to emerge with the lion-share of points.

A relieved NSW coach Daryl Gibson was pleased to dodge a bullet.

"We'll take that four points, bank that and get on the plane tomorrow [Sunday]," Gibson said.

"We could have easily dropped that game tonight. We stuck in there, ground it out and got the result."

Tamworth prop Paddy Ryan came off the bench midway through the second-half and made an impact for the home side.

Ryan, who was pretty keen to impress after being left out of the starting line-up for the returning Sekope Kepu, embarked on two runs, making 10 metres.

He was his industrious self in the scrum and made a number of telling tackles in defence for the Tahs, who shut out the Force in the second-half.

Glen Innes flyer Alex Newsome, who featured in the 23-man squad for the Force, had to cool his jets on the bench.

The NSW Country Eagles speedster was not called upon by coach David Wessels despite his side having its firepower thwarted late on.

ACT Brumbies ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, but lost no admirers in a 17-13 away loss to the Crusaders in New Zealand on Saturday.

The home side led by nine points at the break.

But the team from Canberra refused to throw in the towel despite finishing the match with just 43 per cent of possession and 29 per cent of field position.

Nobody typified this more than Quirindi’s Sam Carter in his first game as skipper.

Carter’s off-load created the break which eventually finished with Rory Arnold’s try taking the score to 12-10 in Christchurch.

But Peter Samu’s try gave the Crusaders breathing space and while Wharenui Hawera’s penalty goal cut the margin to four points, that would ultimately be the final margin.

“The defence is something we pride ourselves on and we hung in there for 80 minutes, but couldn’t get [the result]. There’s only one way to go from here,” Carter said post-match.

The second-rower impressed with seven runs and 31m gained in addition to his off-load for the try.

Tamworth’s Mick Snowden missed out on the matchday squad for the Melbourne Rebels, who were dusted 56-18 by the Blues at AAMI Park on Thursday night.

The halfback could be in contention for a call-up after chief playmaker Nic Stirzaker came off with concussion early in the match.