European Cup champions Wasps started the defense of their title with a 25-12 victory over French visitors Biarritz at the Causeway Stadium, north of London, on Sunday.
Biarritz were 12-9 ahead at half-time thanks to three penalties from France scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili and a drop goal from Test center Damien Traille.
PHOTO: AP
But English champions Wasps scored 16 unanswered points in the second half of this Pool One encounter.
Full back Mark van Gisbergen kicked four penalties and also converted England back-row Joe Worsley's try late in the match with fly-half Alex King landing two drop goals.
Biarritz's pack was in dominating form during the opening 40 minutes with Wasps restricted to two van Gisbergen penalties and a King drop goal.
But Wasps were a refreshed team in the second period, reducing their handling errors and gaining territory.
Nine points in eight minutes thanks to two more Van Gisbergen penalties and another King drop goal put Wasps in charge.
Then Biarritz saw France flanker Serge Betsen sent to the sin bin on the hour mark and five minutes later his opposite number Worsley powered over for the game's only try.
In the day's other match, England wing Ben Cohen's try proved the decisive score as Northampton ground out a 13-9 win away to a determined Glasgow.
On a sodden, heavy pitch, Cohen struck with barely two minutes on the clock after good work by prop Chris Budgen who powered clear.
Budgen passed the ball to Marc Stcherbina who in turn released Cohen. Shane Drahm converted for the 2000 European champions to make it 7-0.
But Glasgow fought back thanks to two Dan Parks' penalties and were only 7-6 down at half-time.
Both sides struggled in the second half before Drahm's penalty stretched the Saints lead.
Parks cut the deficit to four points with his third penalty to give Glasgow hope, but that was as close as they got.
France's player of year
Flyhalf Manny Edmonds was named France's player of the year at the first "Night of Rugby" organized by the National Rugby League and the player's union on Monday.
The international player of the year award went to Toulouse center Yannick Jauzion, while Beziers flanker Yannick Nyanga was voted young player of the year.
New Zealand-born former Australian international Edmonds has become one of the most respected flyhalves in French rugby since joining Perpignan from the New South Wales Waratahs in 2002.
He led his club to the French championship final last season and to an all-French final of the 2003 European Cup, when Perpignan lost to Toulouse at Lansdowne Road.
Jauzion, 26, joined Toulouse from modest Colomiers at the start of the 2002 to 2003 season and, within a year, became a regular in the backline of the most successful club in French rugby. Toulouse won the European Cup for the second time last year.
Named in his country's World Cup squad last year, Jauzion hit the headlines by running in a hat-trick of tries in France's 61-18 victory over Fiji in their tournament opener.
New All Blacks
All Blacks coach Graham Henry named eight new players and recalled former captain Anton Oliver yesterday in a new-look squad to tour Europe next month.
Only 11 of the 32-man squad played internationals this season, as Henry and his fellow selectors chose to rest some players, like experienced inside back combination Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens, and blood new ones.
"We need to establish a solid base in terms of experience and selection options, and the matches against Italy, Wales, France and the Barbarians offer us every opportunity to do that," Henry said.
Loose forwards Steven Bates and Jerome Kaino, prop Saimone Taumoepeau, flyhalf Luke McAlister, centers Casey Laulala and Conrad Smith, and scrumhalves Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu were all included for the first time.
Five other players, including former captain Oliver, loose forward Rodney So'oialo and lock Norm Maxwell, have returned after not being needed earlier this year.
Henry said the decision to not select Marshall and Mehrtens, who masterminded Canterbury's victory in the national provincial championship last weekend, was to allow the team to build experience in their positions.
Flyhalf Carlos Spencer, lock Keith Robinson, and utility back Sam Tuitupou were not considered because of injury. Prop Kees Meeuws and lock Simon Maling were ruled out because they have signed to play overseas.
The All Blacks begin their tour against Italy in Rome on Nov.13, before playing Wales and France and ending with a game against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Hooker captains Scotland
Hooker Gordon Bulloch was named on Monday as Scotland captain for the November internationals against Australia, Japan and South Africa.
Bulloch succeeds injured lock Scott Murray who was not named in the 37-man squad, although coach Matt Williams said he had not been entirely ruled out of next month's tests.
"Gordon has shown outstanding leadership on and off the pitch and is one of the most intense trainers in the squad," Williams said.
There are few surprises in the squad apart from the inclusion of 18-year-old John Barclay.
Openside flanker Barclay was selected for the Scotland Sevens squad last season and has now secured a contract with Glasgow Rugby.
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