Paris (AFP) - Four-time European champions Leinster began their Champions Cup campaign with a bang, running in six tries in a 42-10 hammering of French side Racing 92 in Le Havre on Saturday.
There was also an historic first in Durban where Sharks became the first South African franchise to take part in the new-format Champions Cup, edging English side Harlequins 39-31 in a pulsating match.
The Cape Town-based Stormers looked as though they were also going to open with a win as they went in at half-time with a 14-3 lead at Clermont.But the Top 14 side ran in two tries in the second half, scoring 21 points without return to consign Stormers to a 24-14 defeat.
Racing, laced with international stars such as Scotland fly-half Finn Russell and France centre Gael Fickou, went into the tournament with high hopes of improving on last season when they lost to eventual champions La Rochelle in the semi-finals.
But, transported from their usual home ground in Paris because of a rap concert already scheduled at their La Defense Arena, they were helpless as the Irish marauders, who lost to La Rochelle in the final last May, overpowered them from the start.
Prop Andrew Porter crashed over in the fourth minute and further tries from Dan Sheehan and Garry Ringrose, while Racing were down to 14 men after hooker Camille Chat was shown a yellow card, gave Leinster a 21-3 lead at the break.
Further tries from World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, who scored twice, and Ed Byrne, sealed the thrashing - and the bonus point - with former England wing Christian Wade's try the only consolation for the French.
"I don't know if it was a show of force," said Leinster coach Leo Cullen.
"We wanted to get this competition off to a good start.With this format, you don't have too much room for error, you have to maximise each of our points.
"It was not easy, Racing were always dangerous.We did well to score quickly because Racing tend to scoring often and quickly.Taking that away from them helped us a lot.
"But we were never comfortable, they pose such problems."
Shark attack
Defending champions La Rochelle eased to a 46-12 win over Northampton, racing to a 32-0 lead by half-time with tries from Brice Dulin, Pierre Bougarit, Pierre Boudehent and Dillyn Leyds.
Gregory Alldritt and Ulupano Seuteni added second-half tries.
"In the first half, to concede 32 points and not answer was disappointing.At this level you get punished," Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson told BT Sport.
In Durban, Harlequins outscored a Sharks side, which included Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, five tries to four but still ended up on the losing side.
Josh Bassett put the Premiership side ahead in the seventh minute but Bongi Mbonambi struck back and two tries from Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi took Sharks into a 22-7 lead.
Will Evans reduced the lead with Quins' second try but Werner Kok fashioned a superb solo try which showed his electric pace and Curwin Bosch added a penalty to make it 32-14 for Sharks.
Andre Esterhuizen dotted down twice for Quins and Bassett added his second to reduce the deficit to a single point with two minutes remaining.
Sharks closed the deal, though, with Boeta Chamberlain completing a fine move down the right.
Stormers made the early running at Clermont, flanker Deon Fourie's try off the back of a line-out close to the line giving them the edge in the first half.
Tries from Alex Newsome and Aliverati Raka took Clermont into the lead and the boot of former France fly-half Jules Plisson - a drop goal and a penalty - settled the outcome.
Bulls saw off last season's European Challenge Cup winners Lyon 42-36 in Pretoria scoring six tries, from Sibongile Novuka, Bernard van der Linde (2), Nizaam Carr, Stravino Jacobs and Chris Barend Smith.
Lyon had trailed by 28 points at one stage but the South Africans held their nerve.
