"Match Winning Maestro" - 5 England Hopefuls Who Impressed in the Champions and Challenge Cup Last Weekend

Northampton Saints kick-started the competition with a win up in Glasgow. The Saints battled well in Scotland for a 28-19 victory to ignite their campaign. Saturday's action began with Exeter Chiefs recording a nail-biting win over Toulon, as Henry Slade slotted the crucial conversion for a 19-18 triumph. Bath then battered Ulster at the Recreation Ground, and racked up an imposing 37-14 victory to begin their European venture with a winning start.

Down in South Africa, Saracens were defeated 27-16 by the Bulls, in a slight blemish on the record of the Premiership club sides this weekend. An 85th minute drop goal from Callum Sheedy secured Bristol Bears a stunning 36-34 win over Lyon, in an electric contest at Ashton Gate. Sale then put Stade Francais to the sword, and ran out an impressive 28-5 clinic over their Parisian visitors. Sunday's action saw Leicester Tigers hand the Stormers a 35-26 loss at Welford Road, before Marcus Smith took centre stage in Harlequins' 31-28 comeback win against Racing 92.

The Challenge Cup featured two Premiership performances, with Gloucester Rugby making good on their trip to Georgia. The Cherry and Whites recorded a 15-10 win over Black Lion, to mark the Tbilisi side's debut in the competition. Newcastle Falcons were unable to record their first win of the campaign, with Montpellier re-finding their form for a 24-19 away win up in Kingston Park.

Here are our picks for the five England hopefuls who stood out, in the opening round of European action.

Northampton Saints have steadily pieced together an exhilarating side, with their triumph over Glasgow Warriors highlighting their entire arsenal. The young english contingent of Fin Smith, Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman produced constant fireworks across the back-line, with Freeman's efforts burning brightest against Glasgow, for a future England call-up. Freeman's pace has always been a weapon, however since the start of the 2023/24 season, the 22-year-old packs an added punch with gain-line breaks.

Freeman was excellent at the Scotstoun, and made a strong line-break in the build up to Courtney Lawes' try. The midfielder then contributed his first of two scores to put the Saints into the lead, as he exploded onto Fin Smith's neat pop pass, and drove over from close range. Freeman's second try came on the half hour mark, and presented a powerful leg drive to shrug off the numerous Glasgow defenders that tried to bring him down. Freeman kept pumping through the black wall, and dotted down for a stunning finish.

The Bath loose-head had a stunning run out against Ulster, and was duly awarded the Player of the Match for his efforts. Obano's was unfaltering at the set-piece, most notably the maul and scrum. The 29-year-old urged his men on up front, and muscled the rolling maul over Ulster try-line for Tom Dunn's second half score. Obano was excellent scrummaging wise, and repeatedly sent Ulster tight-head Tom O'Toole back-peddling against the shove.

Obano overpowered the Ireland international prop, and presented his abilities against a top calibre tight-head. It has been more than two years since Obano experienced an England cap, with his third and most recent test coming against Canada in the Summer of 2021. The Bath man has previously featured in the Six Nations, with one appearence under Eddie Jones against Scotland, in the 2021 campaign. Obano has been continuing to prove his skillset against top calibre opposition, and this strong effort in Bath's victory over the Belfast side has helped out his England contention for a possible Six Nations return next February.

Henry Slade continued on with his fine form this past weekend, and once again produced the goods when it mattered the most. In a mirror image of Exeter's last-ditch win against Gloucester from three weeks ago, Slade stepped up to the tee to nail the match-winning kick in the closing moments. Slade has well and truly thrown his hat into the ring for a return to the England squad, after missing out on the Rugby World Cup. The centre is a leading contender for Joe Marchant's outside centre vacancy, and had a classy showing in Toulon.

Slade ran the show in the centre of the park, and sent his forwards on thumping carries over the gain-line. The 30-year-old also backed himself to go alone, and has formed a nice midfield partnership with Welsh young gun Joe Hawkins. Slade's two slotted conversions were crucial for the win at the Stade Mayol, with the Chiefs recording a memorable victory. An honourable Exeter mention is in order for Harvey Skinner, as the fly half scored a try to remember following a well-timed interception. Also, Max Norey made good on his Champions Cup debut, as the hooker powered over for a try which set up the dramatic finale.

With Marcus Smith taking the headlines from a classic encounter in Paris, Alex Dombrandt's efforts may have slipped under the radar in the La Defense Arena. However, there is no understating the shift contributed by the number eight, who rose to the occasion for this Champions Cup clash. After being left out of the Rugby World Cup squad, a fire looks to have been lit under Dombrandt, with his motivation to return to the national side burning bright against Racing. Dombrandt was a workhorse in defence, and shrugged off the Parisian carpet burns with countless tackles on the artificial surface.

The back-rower's top contribution was a try on the hour mark, as he backed his pace through a gap in the defensive line. Dombrandt timed his run onto Danny Care's pass, and powered through a hole in the Racing defense, before beating a couple of back-peddling defenders to the whitewash. The 26-year-old clattered his way over the try-line, with the score coming at an opportune time for the eventual Quins comeback. Dombrandt certainly made his mark in this match, and will be hoping for this run of form to continue as competition across the England back-row heats up ahead of the 2024 Six Nations.

We stick with Harlequins for the fifth and final player of the opening Champions Cup week, as Will Joseph remains amongst the top performers amongst England candidates. Joseph had a stunning run out against Racing 92, and topped numerous attacking charts for the entire round of Champions Cup action. The 21-year-old beat eight defenders in Paris, made 34m in contact as well as four clean breaks, all of which were the leading efforts throughout the opening round of action.

The former London Irishman had a reunion with Henry Arundell in Paris, and whilst Arundell has opted out of England for the 2024 Six Nations, Joseph could well get a call-up into Steve Borthwick's squad. Joseph has had a stunning run so far in the 2023/24 season, and has grown into a real contender for an England jersey since arriving at Harlequins. Steve Borthwick's midfield is an area of definite contention, with Joseph hoping to take Joe Marchant's England spot, just as he has done for Harlequins.