Spherical one of many 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup didn’t disappoint.
Fly-halves Marcus Smith and Handre Pollard produced masterful shows, Leinster lastly beat La Rochelle, Manu Tuilagi returned with a bang and Billy Vunipola was despatched off.
The format could have modified however the drama and leisure stays excessive.
BBC Sport takes a have a look at six speaking factors from the weekend.
Smith stars in Paris
When Owen Farrell introduced he can be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations to prioritise his household and psychological wellbeing, it opened the door for a brand new beginning England fly-half.
Smith, deployed at full-back for almost all of the Rugby World Cup, confirmed all his class as a quantity 10 to assist Harlequins stun Racing 92 at Paris La Protection Area.
The 24-year-old scored 16 factors in a narrow 31-28 victory, which included a drop-goal from close to the midway line. It was a whole efficiency from the fly-half who confirmed his tenacity in defence, a aspect of his recreation typically criticised.
The bonus-point win in Paris units Quins up completely in Pool Two – with video games in opposition to Toulouse, Cardiff Blues and Ulster to come back – and can edge Smith ahead in England head coach Steve Borthwick’s plans.
Tuilagi taking part in his ‘finest stuff’
Sale Sharks welcomed the return of England centre Tuilagi from a hand harm for his first match because the World Cup.
Accidents have been a typical theme to Tuilagi’s profession and, even after a powerful World Cup, some questioned if the 32-year-old may need known as time on the highest stage.
However a bodily, strong and impactful 80-minute efficiency of their 28-5 victory over Stade Francais confirmed he’s nonetheless on the very high of his recreation, with a “few more” years nonetheless left within the tank, in keeping with head coach Alex Sanderson.
“It did not appear to be he wished to come back off. He appeared match which is a extremely good signal for the membership transferring ahead,” he stated.
“How he’s speaking and transferring – why not a number of extra years? He’s taking part in his finest stuff, that is probably the most strong he has ever been.”
Leinster lastly finish La Rochelle curse
Leinster have had their Champions Cup hopes shattered three years on the bounce by La Rochelle. After a semi-final defeat in 2021, there have been agonising losses in back-to-back finals, with final season’s 27-26 comeback in Dublin exhibiting the French aspect may even beat Leinster in their very own yard.
However, with fly-half Ross Byrne injured and brother Harry going off early within the recreation, it was substitute Ciaran Frawley who helped them over the road at the home of the defending champions.
Frawley kicked three penalties so as to add to Jordan Larmour’s first-half attempt as Leinster got here out 16-9 winners in a chaotic encounter performed in difficult situations.
It was La Rochelle’s first defeat within the Champions Cup in two and a half years and got here simply weeks after South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber arrived at Leinster with the purpose of turning slender losses into victories.
Such an announcement victory will give them an enormous psychological enhance in the event that they meet once more within the last this yr.
Pollard reveals class
Leicester Tigers signed Pollard to ship massive moments. The South African, who has scored 24 factors in two World Cup last triumphs, has struggled to remain injury-free for the Tigers.
The fly-half stepped up in opposition to South African aspect Stormers by scoring 20 out of Leicester’s 35 factors. He scored his aspect’s third attempt earlier than punting the ball into the nook, with the clock within the purple, to go for an all-important bonus-point attempt.
With the rating 30-26, the choice might have backfired however his confidence was justified when Josh Bassett scored within the nook within the final play of the sport.
Pool 4 additionally comprises Stade Francais, La Rochelle and Leinster, that means each level will rely and Pollard’s perception in his aspect to achieve most factors could also be an enormous second to look again on.
Saracens see purple in South Africa
When Saracens lifted their third European title in 2019 at St James’ Park they had been at their peak.
Extra titles was the goal however as a substitute relegation to the Championship adopted after they had been punished for persistent wage cap breaches. The rebuild commenced and after a Premiership title final season, a crack at reaching the summit of Europe is excessive on the agenda once more.
Saracens travelled to South Africa trying to put in an early assertion of intent however as a substitute poor discipline made the headlines.
They spent 48 minutes with 14 males as they fell to a 27-16 defeat. Each Alex Goode and Maro Itoje spent 10 minutes within the sin-bin earlier than Billy Vunipola was despatched off for a harmful clear-out sort out.
They had been the one English aspect of eight to not win within the opening spherical of matches.
Final-minute heroics
On the event launch day, European Skilled Membership Rugby chairman Dominic McKay stated the brand new format ought to assist produce “unbelievable spectacles”.
Exeter had been on the correct aspect of a kind of spectacles in Toulon on Saturday. A formidable fightback that includes two late tries bought them to inside a degree and a conversion of profitable the sport. Henry Slade duly obliged, firing over the kick to report a memorable win in France.
At Ashton Gate afterward Saturday, Bristol and Lyon scored 11 tries between them in one other unbelievable encounter. The sport was settled within the eighty fifth minute when Callum Sheedy landed a drop-goal to seal a dramatic 36-34 victory.
Lyon had trailed 33-10 with three minutes left in what sufficient of a European basic, earlier than Sheedy added additional drama to proceedings.