There were plenty of upsets around the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup - Shaun Goosen reviews.
Champions Cup: Vermeulen’s Ulster win at the Stade Michelin
In Duane Vermeulen’s Ulster debut, the Belfast side recorded a 29-23 upset win over Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin. The lead changed hands on several occasions but it was Dan McFarland’s charges who came away with a fantastic win in the end as they keep their sights set on achieving silverware this season. Elsewhere, Courtnall Skosan dotted down for his third try in Northampton colours during the Saints’ disappointing 14-45 thumping by a star-studded Racing 92 at Franklin’s Gardens, while both Jean-Luc du Preez and Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored for the Sale Sharks in their 21-12 win over Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
In other results, there were wins for Toulouse over Cardiff (39-7), Leicester over Bordeaux (16-13), Leinster over Bath (45-20), Exeter over Montpellier (42-6), Connacht against Stade Francais (36-9), La Rochelle versus Glasgow (20-13), Munster against Wasps (35-14) and Harlequins v Castres (20-18).
Challenge Cup: Sarries thwarted by Edinburgh at the StoneX
Edinburgh achieved the upset of the weekend in beating Saracens 21-18 at the Stonex Stadium. Despite their storming start to the URC, not many gave the Scottish outfit a chance against the three-time Champions Cup winners. However, tries to Ramiro Moyano and WP Nel, as well as the boot of new signing Emiliano Boffelli, stole them a valuable away win in London.
Elsewhere, Lyon beat Gloucester 19-13, Newcastle saw off Worcester 31-26, Biarritz won 26-13 at Zebre, Perpignan pipped the Dragons 22-16 and London Irish upset Pau 33-17 away.
