Toulouse well launched, Bayonne holds on to Munster, Toulon and Lyon beaten to the wire… The recap of Saturday’s day

Semi-finalists last season, Toulouse started their 2023-2024 campaign with a big victory against Cardiff on Saturday.

European rugby is regaining its rights. French clubs are on deck across Europe for the first day of the Champions Cup, Saturday December 9. After the victory of Bordeaux-Bègles on Friday evening in Ireland, Toulouse also started its adventure in the best possible way, by mastering Cardiff in its Ernest Wallon stadium.

Toulouse and Blair Kinghorn are already impressing

Toulouse, who are among the favorites to play the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the spring, offered a first demonstration against Cardiff (52-7) on their lawn. A big victory sealed in the first period, with four goals and the offensive bonus point in the bag for the Toulouse residents. In total, they scored seven tries, for only seven small points conceded.

Established at full-back just five days after his arrival in Haute-Garonne and with less than a week of training in his legs, Scottish international Blair Kinghorn had a dream debut. Not handicapped by the lack of benchmarks, he has already scored his first two tries in the red and black jersey.

Bayonne’s great performance for his discovery of the competition

The Bayonnais had announced that they wanted to use this competition to learn and progress, they have already achieved a nice achievement. For its first match in the big European Cup, which it had never played in its history, Aviron Bayonnais went to catch Munster (17-17), double European champion, on the lawn of the legendary Thomond Park.

Led in particular by the experienced Maxime Machenaud, three-time European vice-champion with Racing 92, the Bayonnais fought with their weapons and with heart. Trailing by having scored a single penalty when returning to the locker room, they delivered a high-level second half to respond to the Irish, and come back to the level.

Toulon and Lyon fall in the last seconds

On the harbor, Toulon had a drink. The Varois, second in the Top 14, started their European adventure with a narrow defeat at home against Exeter (19-18), for the first match of the afternoon. Although well ahead at the break, Pierre Mignoni’s men sank after returning from the locker room. They conceded a 14-0 sec, and the try transformed from defeat after the siren. They also lost Baptiste Serin, injured in the shoulder and left with a splint. For his first match in the Toulon jersey, Melvyn Jaminet, starting at back, was unable to reverse the trend. Solid and with little waste in his game, the former Toulouse player has shown off his long game, but has not yet scored.

The Lyonnais also fell at the last second in Bristol (36-34). Overwhelmed in the first period on the Bears’ pitch, the young Lyon team made an express comeback with four tries scored after the 40th minute to take control. Before breaking down, cornered, on a drop three minutes after the siren. They leave England with two bonus points, but a lot of regrets.

Bordeaux-Bègles and its rear already well underway

Symbolically, they were the ones who signed the first victory of the season in the Champions Cup. The Bordelo-Béglais made short work of Connacht (41-5) on Friday evening in the west of Ireland. After a rather balanced first twenty minutes, the UBB players increased their intensity and completely annihilated the Irish hopes to achieve an improved victory and ideally launch their campaign.

On the Connacht pitch, the Bordelo-Béglais were carried by their rear, with great success. In the absence of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Yoram Moefana, Romain Buros and Pablo Uberti both scored twice. Damian Penaud also had his try, his first under his new colors on the European scene.