Different competition, same story © Getty Images

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It may have had a touch of the Emperor's New Clothes about it, but the new era of European rugby kicked off this weekend as the Champions Cup was thrust into the public eye. Monday Maul looks at the key talking points.

Same Munster, different competition

There is an inevitability that if Munster are ever locked in a tight European match, they will have the final say. Back in the 2011-12 campaign the boot of Ronan O'Gara struck at the death twice in a week as his drop-goals saw Munster snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Northampton and then Castres. The romance of the Heineken Cup lives on in the new rebranded Champions Cup yet it is Ian Keatley who took on the O'Gara role against Sale.

Sale played some wonderful rugby at times but Munster have that nous which gets them across the line. There was some poor decision making in the Sale ranks but Munster know how to control the last few stages of a match. When Keatley got himself in position for the drop-goal, there was only going to be one outcome.

Champions Cup continues seamlessly from the Heineken- thrilling last gasp drop goal won for Munster over Sale.

— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) October 18, 2014

Two wonderful No.8s

On Saturday we witnessed a remarkable performance from Munster's CJ Stander at Sale as he made a huge 105 metres with ball in hand. And come Sunday, it was the master Jamie Heaslip who was the recipient of the Man of the Match award in Leinster's win over Wasps.

With Brian O'Driscoll purring in the commentary box over Heaslip's performance, it was hard not to be hugely impressed as he led his team back from the brink of defeat. He made 14 tackles, 49 metres and cleared out ruck after ruck.

The Weekend's Awards

• Player: Leinster's Jamie Heaslip
• Coach:Glasgow's Gregor Townsend
• Try: Christian Wade's against Leinster
• Mare: Ben Foden's attempted clearance against Racing Metro which led to a try

Difficult watching for Lancaster

On Wednesday, England boss Stuart Lancaster is expected to name a training squad for the autumn internationals and not necessarily the projected Elite Player Squad. There are likely to be a few new faces - Bath's Semesa Rokoduguni is in line for a call-up - but it was the old guard who shone at the weekend with Charlie Hodgson picking up the Man of the Match award in Saracens' win over Clermont and David Strettle bagging an impressive brace of tries in the same game.

There was also a glimpse of the new with Christian Wade's wonderful try for Wasps against Leinster where he danced his way down the touchline to score. It was a timely reminder.

But while they impressed, Lancaster would have seen Kyle Eastmond forced off against Glasgow, Manu Tuilagi's troublesome groin rear its head again and some of those who were playing well at the start of the season start to slow down. Lancaster was originally meant to name his EPS in July but correctly delayed the call until he had the opportunity to assess his players' form. He now faces the quandary of backing his first instinct or revising it all based on current circumstances.

© PA

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The Antipodean differences

The contrast could not have been more stark. In the 80th minute of the All Blacks' match in Brisbane, New Zealand were united. As they darted towards the Australian line six points down and with no time left, it would have taken a brave individual to bet against them stealing the match. Like Ireland in November, the All Blacks bided their time and Malakai Fekitoa eventually struck and Colin Slade added the extras. They won by a point. It was the perfect illustration of a group of individuals working as an organic whole.

A matter of minutes after the full-time whistle Australia coach Ewen McKenzie was announcing his resignation as he felt he had lost the dressing room. Individual self-interest had outweighed the needs of the team. "Better people make better All Blacks" is their mantra. Lately that has morphed into a version of the Sydney Swans' "no dickheads" rule. It is a credo that has served the All Blacks well and has helped contribute to them being the best team in the world. Australia now need to instill a similar mindset into their squad as Lancaster has done since getting the England job in 2012.

Challenge Cup lacking credibility

It was billed as a new era of pan-European competitiveness but unfortunately the French teams are still picking under-strength teams and the various scores across the Challenge Cup portrayed a host of thrashings. London Irish's 70-14 win over Rovigo does little for anyone.

One team who bucked the trend were the Dragons and they warrant a special mention. They have had to cope with their fair share of flack this season but their surprise win at Stade Francais could be the catalyst for those men from Gwent.

Glasgow put down a marker

Bath were favourites to qualify from their Pool in the Champions Cup. A brief dissection of the other teams would have seen a struggling Toulouse team, a Montpellier outfit without their star fly-half and Glasgow, who no one quite knew how they would adjust to European rugby despite their impressive PRO12 form. And then came the match at Scotstoun where the Warriors were superb in every facet of the game against Bath. They simply blew away the West Country aristocrats with the wonderful Mark Bennett excelling.