Savea at second-five

Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea was handed a new role as his Toulon club thrashed Vern Cotter’s Montpellier in the European Champions Cup.

Savea lined up at second fiveeighth in an all-Kiwi midfield with ex-All Blacks team-mate Malakai Fekitoa as Toulon celebrated a 38-28 home win yesterday.

Toulon – with former All Black Liam Messam at No 8 – ran in four tries, a figure matched by Montpellier.

But French international Anthony Belleau booted four penalties for Toulon, who made Montpellier pay for ill-discipline.

Todd Blackadder’s Bath rugby team lost a nailbiter to European Champions Cup Leinster after Irish test wing Jordan Larmour intercepted a pass by Bath’s Southland import James Wilson.

Leinster – European and Pro14 champions last season – beat Bath 17-10 at Bath’s Recreation Ground.

Wilson – signed as short-term injury cover for his second stint at Bath — started at first fiveeighth. The 35-year-old kicked a conversion and a penalty.

But Larmour snaffled an attempted long by Wilson and ran almost 50m to score the most crucial try of the contest.

Former Crusaders halfback Willi Heinz scored a try as he captained Gloucester to a 27-19 win over the Exeter Chiefs.

Gloucester inflicted Exeter’s first home defeat in three seasons to top their pool after an outstanding display by young wing Ollie Thorley, who offloaded for Heinz to get the visitors’ first try and showed searing pace throughout.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie watched his Glasgow Warriors side secure the lead in Pool Three with a 42-22 win over Lyon.

Adam Ashe got a double for Glasgow, who were captained by Kiwi flanker Callum Gibbins.

Glasgow’s Scottish rivals, Edinburgh, also head their section after taming the Newcastle Falcons, 31-13.

Lima Sopoaga kicked a penalty and a conversion as Wasps lost at home, 24-16, to French club Toulouse, who had Louis-Benoit Madaule banished for stamping on Brad Shields.

Ulster achieved a memorable one-point, 25-24, win over Welsh club Scarlets at Llanelli.