Champions Cup round up late winners and star performances light up round one

Champions Cup round up late winners and star performances light up round one

After a thrilling first weekend, we’re taking a look at the key moments and best action from the Investec Champions Cup Round 1.

Pollard perfection 

Leicester Tigers’ fly-half Handré Pollard produced a stunning performance in his side’s 35-26 victory over DHL Stormers. 

He scored his first ever Investec Champions Cup try and kicked another 15 points, placing him on top of the tournament’s points table after Round 1. With the South African in rich form, could he top the list come the end of the season?

Kinghorn’s debut double 


Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn is the latest exciting back on Stade Toulousain’s books, and he announced himself to the Stade Ernest-Wallon crowd with two tries from full-back on his debut against Cardiff Rugby in the Investec Champions Cup. 

Not one to be overshadowed, scrum-half Antoine Dupont was excellent as well, producing a round-high of seven offloads in the home side’s 52-7 win. 


Smith’s drop-goal proves the difference 

Marcus Smith was electric in an exciting, end-to-end affair against Racing 92 - but perhaps his best moment was his stunning long-range drop goal which proved to be the difference as his Harlequins won 31-28. 

Smith might have caught the headlines, but centre Will Joseph also impressed; he made a total of 34 post-contact metres, more than any other player last weekend, and also made 115 metres, beat a round-high eight defenders, and made four clean breaks. 

Frawley’s monster pen seals the deal

Talking of monster kicks, Ciaran Frawley’s 60m effort sealed Leinster Rugby’s first win over double-champions Stade Rochelais.

There might not have been medals at the end of it, but the Irish province will take some joy from finally beating the side that defeated them in the past two finals – and in the French side’s own backyard too.

Moodie try pick of the bunch for Vodacom Bulls 

Wing Canan Moodie scored the pick of three Vodacom Bulls tries as the South Africans defeated Saracens at home. 

A breakaway by Kurt-Lee Arendse triggered the move, and not even a perfect tap tackle by Owen Farrell could stop Moodie racing home.



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