Andy Robinson's first Heineken Cup match in charge of Edinburgh ended in a 19-15 defeat by Toulouse in the Scottish capital, though not before his new charges had offered the former England head coach plenty of succour with an mighty impressive performance.
It is nigh on a year since Robinson departed from the challenge of international rugby. And his new job is most certainly a challenge, too, following Edinburgh's summer of discontent, during which time they returned to the fold of the Scottish Rugby Union after a disastrous period of private ownership and also lost a bevy of players.
A below-par Toulouse, who lost to Edinburgh in this competition four years ago, were limited to three Jean-Baptiste Elissalde penalties in the first period before a try by wing Maxime Medard after the break gave them a 16-3 lead.
But a marvellous response by Edinburgh, who scored touchdowns through centre Nick de Luca and replacement wing John Houston, reduced the deficit to 16-15 with 12 minutes remaining before a fourth penalty by Elissalde soothed frayed French nerves. Still, at least Edinburgh could console themselves with a losing bonus point.
Elsewhere, Biarritz were made to work hard for a 19-11 triumph against Viadana in Italy. Ashwin Willemse, the Springbok international, scored the French side's only try while Dimitri Yachvili contributed 14 points with the boot.
Bristol launch their Heineken Cup campaign against Cardiff at the Arms Park today, having secured qualification with an against-the-odds run to the Guinness Premiership play-offs last season. And Richard Hill, the Bristol head coach, believes his team will be no pushovers in a pool that includes Harlequins and much-fancied Stade Francais.
'It will put Bristol on the European map if the club does well,' Hill said. 'We have established a good reputation in England in recent seasons and this gives us a chance to show what Bristol can do on a European stage and beyond.'
Hill has recalled Mark Regan and Shaun Perry, who experienced differing fortunes in England's recent World Cup campaign, as well as club captain Matt Salter, to Bristol's starting XV, though No8 Dan Ward-Smith has to make do with a berth on the replacements' bench.
Richard Hill of the back-row variety is among a raft of players who return for Saracens' clash against Glasgow at Vicarage Road, a match that the home side will expect to win against an improving Scottish side. Sarries also recall half-backs Neil de Kock and Glen Jackson from the team that began against Bristol in the EDF Energy Cup last Sunday. Glasgow include Daryl Gibson, the former Leicester and New Zealand centre.
Llanelli Scarlets are without injured captain Simon Easterby and wing Mark Jones for a tough-looking tie in France against Clermont Auvergne, for whom John Smit, South Africa's World Cup-winning captain, starts on the bench.
In the European Challenge Cup, Worcester ground out an 18-8 victory against Bucuresti in wet conditions in Romania. Marcel Garvey and Pat Sanderson crossed for them.
Newcastle ran in 11 tries as they thrashed Cetransa El Salvador 71-10 in Spain, with Alex Tait, the younger brother of Mathew Tait, and Ollie Phillips each claiming a hat-trick. Jamie Noon, playing for the first time since a knee injury ended his World Cup campaign, lasted for only half an hour before being withdrawn as a precaution, following a blow to the head in the tackle.
