Unheralded teenager Stephanie Rice was the shining light for Australia as swimming minnow Scotland snatched the early honours on a night of surprises in the Commonwealth Games pool.

The 17-year-old Queenslander produced a stunning swim to upset seasoned campaigners Brooke Hanson and Lara Carroll as Australia pulled off the trifecta in the 200m individual medley.

Rice (2:12.90) stormed past Hanson in the final lap after the Victorian looked ready to finally win her first individual gold medal at a major meet.

It was Australia's only gold medal of the night as the host nation collected seven medals with four silvers and two bronzes.

"I never thought I was going to win, I didn't think I was a chance," said a stunned Rice.

"When I turned around at the end and saw first it was just so amazing," she said.

However her performance was not enough to stop the home crowd feeling that the national team had well and truly had its thunder stolen on the opening night.

In case there was any doubt, there was the impromptu haka to celebrate New Zealander Moss Burmester's win in the 200m butterfly from Australians Travis Nederpelt and Josh Krogh.

Then there was the Scottish national anthem being played on two occasions for Caitlin McClatchey and David Carry's wins in the 200m and 400m freestyle events.

McClatchey (1:57.25) produced a stunning performance, taking more than two seconds off her best time in the 200m to derail Libby Lenton's quest for seven gold medals at the opening hurdle.

"Obviously I can't win seven gold medals now, it is impossible so it's a bit of pressure off," said Lenton.

Australian head coach Alan Thompson had warned about nerves on the opening night and while some swimmers such as Linda MacKenzie failed to rise to the occasion, the likes of McClatchey lifted.

Such was the speed of the women's 200m freestyle that six competitors went under the old Games mark and the first three swimmers all went faster than the gold medal winning time at last year's Montreal world championships.

McClatchey had showed her promise by picking up bronze in the 400m freestyle in Montreal.

However only the most confident members of the Scottish camp could have predicted Thursday's performance.

Late inclusion Craig Stevens (3:51.96) could not complete his fairytale, finishing fourth in the 400m for a second consecutive Commonwealth Games after failing to back up his impressive heat swim.

Stevens only came into the swim team after Ian Thorpe's withdrawal due to illness last week and he appeared to struggle with his limited preparation in the final.

To finish off the night, South Africa's Olympic champion and world record holding 4x100m team held off a gallant Australian team that was missing Ian Thorpe.

Ashley Callus threatened to pull an upset win in the final leg but Ryk Neethling showed his class to edge clear and the visitors won by 0.57s.

Englishman Liam Tancock (24.84) continued to show his sensational early form by finishing just four hundredths of a second outside the 50m backstroke world record in the semi-finals.

He slashed 0.42s off the Games record he set in Thursday's heats.

Australia's Jess Schipper (26.55) warmed up for Friday night's 50m butterfly final with a Games record.

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