Rugby union: talking points from the European Champions Cup

Pool 1: Toulouse threaten to bruise

After the eight-try drubbing of Wasps last weekend nobody was betting against Leinster repeating their Champions Cup triumph. But Pool 1 was thrown wide open on Sunday with Toulouse’s unexpected victory. Eddie Jones might not have enjoyed the boos at the Ricoh Arena but the England head coach would have appreciated some of the displays. Zach Mercer, with his dancing feet, and Charlie Ewels, leading from the front with a well‑taken try, impressed. All credit to Bath and Freddie Burns for recovering from the farcical defeat by Toulouse, the French blue bloods who showed that they can still make a real impact in this competition again.

Pool results: Toulouse 28-27 Leinster; Wasps 35-35 Bath

Pool 2: Chiefs could come to grief at Thomond Park

The Chiefs are mightily unlucky to be reflecting that they may need to beat Munster at Thomond Park in their final game if they are to progress to the quarter-finals. Munster had played them at their own game to draw at Sandy Park and, on Saturday in France, Exeter could not exploit the extra man after Maama Vaipulu, the Castres No 8, was sent off for a reckless tackle on Luke Cowan-Dickie. Worryingly for Exeter they have failed to win either game in which they had a firm grip. The French champions have looked ordinary and Munster, who did exploit the extra man after Danny Cipriani’s sending-off for Gloucester, look the best side in this pool.

Pool results: Castres 29-25 Exeter; Munster 36-22 Gloucester

Pool 3: Itoje & co a bonus for Saracens

Saracens look unbeatable at the moment. Their win in Barnet on Saturday night was a drab affair with Lyon really deciding to play rugby only when it was too late. Mark McCall called their display scratchy but they still earned a bonus point and a number of players – Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Alex Goode and Michael Rhodes – are at the top of their games. Glasgow impressed in their defeat by Saracens and they went one better with a bonus-point win in Cardiff on Sunday where Adam Hastings once again showed his potential at fly-half and the Warriors look a good bet to sneak into the last eight.

Pool results: Saracens 29-10 Lyon; Cardiff Blues 12-29 Glasgow

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Pool 4: Cole fine on Leicester’s front line

If there were any doubts that Racing would be carrying the French again, they would have disappeared at La Défense Arena. Five tries, including one from the former Munster wing Simon Zebo, helped to run Ulster ragged in Paris and Racing, who lost May’s miserable final to Leinster, look as if they can go one better this time. They appear likely to go unbeaten in Pool 4 but Leicester recalled their glory days in Europe with Friday night’s exhilarating win over the Scarlets. Manu Tuilagi obviously caught the eye, as this was the barnstorming Manu of old, but the win was forged on the anvil of good old Leicester forward power with Dan Cole outstanding again at tighthead.

Pool results: Leicester 45-27 Scarlets; Racing 92 44-12 Ulster

Pool 5: Wilkinson’s rearview mirror gives double vision

A penny for Jonny Wilkinson’s thoughts. Was that really Toulon, winners of three successive Heineken Cups, out there at Murrayfield where their pack was reduced to rubble by Richard Cockerill’s excellent Edinburgh? Full credit to Edinburgh but Toulon, for all their big spending, were bankrupt of ideas. Newcastle, meanwhile, must think bringing down French giants is easy. After that unexpected win in Toulon last weekend, the Falcons beat Montpellier in a pulsating finish with their seven-man pack completing a 39-phase move to bring the house down. Wilkinson’s other old club are the surprise package in this pool on their return to the big time.

Pool results: Edinburgh 40-14 Toulon; Newcastle 23-20 Montpellier