Gregor Townsend would have been rubbing his hands as Scotland speedsters Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn scored in Edinburgh’s statement win over Toulon.
Both Scottish domestic sides are well-placed to progress from their continental pools, boding well for Scotland to back up their third-placed finish in the 2018 Six Nations.
Townsend’s side start their 2019 Guinness Six Nations campaign against Italy on 2 February, with Graham and Kinghorn set to play crucial roles in a brilliant backline.
As Edinburgh became just the third side to win at Toulon in Europe winger Graham, handed his Test debut against Wales in the autumn, showed his strength to overpower Mathieu Smaili and score.
Kinghorn, handed his own Test bow in the 2018 edition of Rugby’s Greatest Championship, latched onto a grubber kick to notch a crucial second with his side ending 28-17 victors.
Elsewhere Jacob Stockdale’s nose for the whitewash remains as keen as ever with the Ireland star scoring two vital tries in Ulster’s statement victory over Racing 92.
The Grand Slam champions begin the defence of their title in just three weeks when they face England in the opening round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations on February 2.
Joe Schmidt will call on Stockdale as reigning Player of the Championship and in such rich try-scoring form he will be looking to follow Brian O’Driscoll and Stuart Hogg in retaining the award.
The 22-year-old’s red-hot streak continued in the autumn as his score helped Ireland claim a historic victory over New Zealand and his provincial performances have been just as deadly.
In a crunch continental match-up with last season’s Champions Cup finalists, Stockdale sped over for his first try in the corner after fellow international Will Addison’s clean break.
And in an uncanny reprise of his clinching try against the All Blacks in November, the winger chipped and chased down his kick to slide over the whitewash, leaving him with six tries in five matches so far in Europe.
Warren Gatland’s Welsh front-rowers shone for Scarlets, Rob Evans scoring twice and Ken Owens, playing at No.8, diving over in a convincing win over Leicester Tigers.
Meanwhile Toby Faletau capped his return from injury with an astute assist to set up Max Green for a try in Bath Rugby’s 18-16 win over Wasps.
