Sunday's results
- Northampton 25-14 Lyon
- Racing 92 30-10 Saracens
- Connacht 23-20 Montpellier
- Saturday's review
Dan Biggar kicked 20 points to steer Northampton to an impressive 25-14 victory over Lyon in their Heineken Champions Cup opener at Franklin's Gardens.
Back from World Cup duties for Wales, it was Biggar's first appearance for Saints this season and his six penalties and the conversion of Rory Hutchinson's try helped his side to a hard-fought success.
Replacement Thibaut Regard scored two tries for Lyon, both of which Jonathan Wisniewski converted.
This season, Lyon have won eight of the opening nine league games to lead the Top 14 but they were no match for the home side, who also saw England World Cup squad members Courtney Lawes, Piers Francis and Lewis Ludlam return to the fray.
Holders Saracens suffered defeat in the opening match of their title defence after going down 30-10 to Racing 92 at the Paris La Defense Arena.
The reigning Premiership and European champions, who are set to drop their planned appeal against a £5.4million fine and a 35-point penalty for a breach of the salary cap, were comfortably beaten as Racing claimed a bonus-point victory.
The hosts ran in four tries through Virimi Vakatawa, Teddy Thomas, Finn Russell and Wenceslas Lauret, with Maxime Machenaud kicking 10 points.
Alex Lozowski scored the only try for a Saracens side missing a host of star names, with scrum-half Ben Spencer contributing five points with the boot.
Connacht marked their return to Champions Cup rugby in memorable style with a terrific 23-20 victory over Montpellier at the Sportsground.
Tries from Paul Boyle, stand-in captain Tom McCartney and Caolin Blade, with the rest of the points kicked by Jack Carty and Conor Fitzgerald, saw the westerners prevail in their first European top tier game in three seasons.
Montpellier scored tries through Aaron Cruden and Anthony Bouthier, while captain Benoit Paillaugue added two penalties, but injury-depleted Connacht, who led 13-10 at half-time, were worthy winners in a performance of massive character.
