Duhan van der Merwe scored twice on his return to Edinburgh Rugby in an emphatic win over Benetton in the United Rugby Championship – just a fortnight before Scotland’s first Autumn Nations Series clash.
He and fellow Scotland winger Darcy Graham both impressed with doubles in Edinburgh’s win over Benetton and will hope to carry out the form into the international scene, starting with the visit of Australia on 29 October.
It was a great day for the Scotland contingent in the Edinburgh squad, with Sam Skinner, WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman also on the scoresheet.
Argentina full-back Emiliano Boffelli was also on the scoreboard, adding four conversions to his try for a 13-point haul.
Scotland welcome Fiji to BT Murrayfield on 5 November and will have to contend with Sam Matavesi, who is in fine form for club side Northampton Saints after scoring a try in their 32-31 win over Newcastle Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership.
Staying in the Premiership, Wales’ Tommy Reffell bagged two tries in Leicester Tigers 27-19 comeback win at Harlequins.
The flanker, who was one of Wales’ standout players in their summer tour of South Africa, scored either side of half-time, with England stars Anthony Watson and Danny Care also on the scoresheet in southwest London.
Reffell’s Wales teammate Josh Adams was on target in an all-Welsh United Rugby Championship affair, as Cardiff defeated the Dragons 31-14, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Rhys Carre and James Botham.
Andy Farrell will be encouraged by how some of Ireland’s key players have started the domestic season as they gear up for Autumn Nations Series matches against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
Munster recorded an important 31-14 victory over the Vodacom Bulls, with Ireland superstar Tadhg Beirne scoring Munster’s fourth try at Thomond Park.
The Bulls may have been defeated but they were not the only South African side in action, with the Cell C Sharks defeating Glasgow Warriors 40-12 at Kings Park, with Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi coming off the bench to score the Sharks’ crucial third try as they looked to pull away.
Elsewhere, The Emirates Lions and Ulster played out a thrilling 76-point encounter at Emirates Airline Park with Ulster taking the spoils 39-37.
Robert Baloucoune scored inside the first minute, with fellow Irish internationals Billy Burns, Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring also crossing.
Over in the Top 14, Matthieu Jalibert inspired Bordeaux Begles to a 29-17 win over Racing 92, scoring 16 points from the boot.
But ahead of France’s Autumn Nations Series campaign, there was an injury worry for Fabien Galthié, with Melvyn Jaminet forced off with a potentially nasty ankle injury as Toulouse beat Brive 45-7.
There were other positives to take though, with Antoine Dupont, Thibaud Flament and Matthis Lebel all scoring for Toulouse in another routine victory.
And in the biggest game of the weekend in the Top 14, French international duo Pierre Bourgarit and Teddy Thomas were both on the scoresheet as La Rochelle eased to a 32-5 win over Toulouse at the Stade Marcel Deflandre to close the gap on top of the league Toulouse.
