Australia's men's eight made a disappointing international debut for 2007 at the Rowing World Cup regatta in Amsterdam, but the women's four enjoyed gold medal success.

The men's eight, which included five-time olympian James Tomkins in his first international representation in three years, could only finish fourth in the B final.

The crew only arrived in Europe on Monday and clearly weren't up to full race fitness. Australia was running third after 500, 1000 and 1500m but ultimately finished fourth in 5m35.84s behind Belarus (5m31.71s), The Netherlands (5m32.36s) and France (5m34.95s).

It was an identical crew to the one that finished fourth in last year's world championship final, with the exception of 41-year-old Tomkins.

However, the Victorian and triple olympic gold medallist and the remainder of the eight will have further opportunities at Henley and Lucerne to sharpen their form before the world championships in Munich in August.

There was a better outcome in the women's four, where Australia won both the gold and silver medals. Although the low key event attracted just four crews, Australia confirmed their world champion status.

The top crew of Victorians Robyn Selby Smith, Sarah Outhwaite and Sarah Heard and Western Australian Natalie Bale finished first in 6m31.06s.

Another three seconds back was the second Australian crew of Victorians Phoebe Stanley and Emily Martin, the ACT's Sonia Mills and Vicky Roberts of NSW.

The winning crew was scheduled to back up as part of Australia's women's eight in the final later in the day.

"We are very happy with the result and feel as though we are beginning to find a good rhythm," Heard said.

"The women's eight will be an important race as we are looking to improve on our result from three weeks ago."

Australia also finished first in the B final of the men's coxless four.

AAP