Romain Ntamack took a while to get back into the groove but came through his comeback game unscathed for Toulouse.
The France fly-half could come into contention for next weekend’s trip to England in Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations after playing his first game in two months.
Having recovered from a fractured jaw, Ntamack kicked two conversions and helped Toulouse to a 42-17 victory over Brive, and was pleased to get back on the pitch.
He said: “I’m happy to be back on the pitch, it had been two months since I’d had that feeling. Even though the match wasn’t perfect, the most important thing was to get that feeling back on the pitch. That’s the key.
“I tried to take in some of the emotion because two months without playing is a long time. It took a while for me to find my feet. I’ve been back with the whole squad for about ten days, so I gradually felt more comfortable as the game went on.”
It was not such good news for Thomas Ramos however, with the France full-back limping off late on in the game, while flanker François Cros will also be hoping for a recall after scoring a try in his return from a foot injury.
Ntamack’s rival for the No.10 jersey, Matthieu Jalibert, was playing in the unfamiliar position of full-back for Bordeaux, but still kicked 19 points in a 29-23 win over Pau, with his France teammate Cameron Woki grabbing a try.
Elsewhere in the Top 14, Anthony Bouthier scored a try as Montpellier battled past Clermont on Friday evening.
Virimi Vakatawa also crossed the whitewash as he returned to action following a knee injury in Racing 92’s 25-21 defeat to Toulon on Saturday, with France teammate Gabin Villiere scoring for the hosts.
In the Guinness PRO14 Joey Carbery continued his return to fitness by knocking over the decisive penalty in a 20-17 Munster win over Connacht that secured their place in the final.
Meanwhile Mattia Bellini helped himself to a double for Zebre but they were eventually beaten 31-20 by Glasgow Warriors, for whom Scotland scrum-half Jamie Dobie sparked a second-half turnaround.
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Ireland’s Josh van der Flier was on the scoresheet for Leinster as the reigning champions secured their place in the final by beating 14-man Ulster 38-19 in Belfast.
Marcell Coetzee and Robert Baloucoune gave the hosts an early 12-3 lead but Michael Bent, Van der Flier and Ed Byrne replied as Leinster stormed 24-12 ahead at the break.
Ulster prop Andrew Warwick was sent off before Rhys Ruddock secured the bonus-point try for Leinster while Nick Timoney and Dan Sheehan traded late tries.
In the Premiership Scotland second row Jonny Gray got a try to help Exeter Chiefs come back and beat a Bath team featuring Taulupe Faletau 38-16, while Callum Sheedy kicked four points including the final conversion in a 24-23 win for Bristol Bears at Worcester Warriors.
