All three Irish provinces competing in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup marked their returns to Guinness PRO14 action with victories at the weekend, including defending champions Leinster Rugby, who cruised home 31-3 at Benetton Rugby. The four-time European Cup winners remain top of Conference B after scoring five tries, despite the likes of fly-half Johnny Sexton, prop Cian Healy and centre Garry Ringrose being rested. Saturday’s win at Stadio Comunale di Monigo followed Leinster’s first Champions Cup defeat in 11 matches at Toulouse last weekend, when they succumbed 28-27 to fall behind the French side in Pool 1. Pool 2 leaders Munster Rugby snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with the final kick of the game against Glasgow Warriors, with centre Rory Scannell landing a long-range penalty to earn a 25-24 win at Thomond Park. https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1056246530041135104 The Scottish side looked set for a bonus-point win after brothers George and Peter Horne combined for 19 points, but the Irish side battled back through tries from full-back Alex Wootton and scrum-half Alby Mathewson. Captain Peter O’Mahony then forced a penalty turnover, giving Scannell the chance to slot over the last-gasp penalty. Ulster Rugby jumped up to third in Conference B with a 36-18 victory over Dragons at Kingspan Stadium. Fly-half Johnny McPhillips kicked 11 points for the home side, while centre Stuart McCloskey dived over for two second-half tries. https://twitter.com/racing92/status/1056254644597542914 2018 Champions Cup finalists Racing 92 scored six tries as they swept aside Pau 48-28 at Paris La Defense Arena, leaving them fourth in the TOP 14. Scrum-half Teddy Iribaren kicked 14 points, while wing Juan Imhoff chipped in with two tries and Jordan Joseph – who made his Heineken Champions Cup debut last week against Ulster – grabbed a first-half try. Meanwhile, Toulouse took their excellent European form into domestic action as they defeated Perpignan 36-18 at Stade Aime Giral. The Pool 1 leaders were 11-10 behind at half-time, but blew away Perpignan in the second half with scrum-half Antoine Dupont scoring a stunning hat-trick of tries.