European Champions Cup
George Smith's Wasps ruin Quade Cooper's European debut
ESPN Staff
November 22, 2015
© David Rogers/Getty Images

Charles Piutau continued his spectacular start at Wasps as the English side put Quade Cooper's Toulon to the sword at the Ricoh Arena.

Piutau played a starring role for the second straight European Champions Cup encounter, the All Blacks flyer combining with one-Test winger Frank Halai in a fine display of attacking rugby.

The Kiwi duo had their forwards to thank for a superb attacking platform with former Wallabies openside George Smith winding back the clock in a commanding 80-minute effort at the breakdown.

The bonus-point 32-6 victory has moved Wasps five points clear at the top of the tournament's "Pool of Death", with Cooper's Toulon bottom after just the one game.

Making his first start on European club rugby's biggest stage, Cooper was unable to fire the defending champions into any sort of rhythm. Toulon will be sweating on the returns of Cooper's fellow Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell who are still enjoying some time off following the Rugby World Cup.

Meanwhile in Llanelli, a couple of veteran Kiwis matched the efforts of their younger counterparts as Racing Metro secured a valuable win on the road ahead of the arrival of All Blacks great Dan Carter.

Former Test stars Joe Rokocoko and Chris Masoe were both among the try-scorers as the Parisians secured the bonus point in a 29-12 win over the Scarlets after leading 26-0 at half-time.

The 17-point victory gave Racing the perfect start to their European campaign with their opening encounter against Glasgow having been postponed due to the Paris terrorist attacks.

In Italy, Aussie winger Peter Betham and Tonga's World Cup star Telusa Veainu helped Leicester to a comfortable win over perennial strugglers Benetton Treviso.

Veainu finished with a double while Betham picked up his first try on the European stage having arrived in England after this year's Super Rugby season.

The bonus-point win on the road could well prove pivotal with heavyweights Munster and Stade Francais joining the Tigers in a tough Pool 4; the French and Irish clubs seeing their clash postponed due to the tragic events in Paris.

Challenge Cup

Former Wallabies captain Ben Mowen grabbed one of Montpellier's 10 tries as the French club celebrated the retention of coach Jake White with a 64-0 drubbing of Italian club Calvisano.

White was rumoured to be among the candidates to replace Stuart Lancaster before ruling himself out of contention; Eddie Jones has since been unveiled by the Rugby Football Union.

Former Blues flyer Anthony Tuitavake was also among the French club's nine try-scorers.

© ESPN Staff

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