Major shock as Edinburgh master Toulouse

Edinburgh 23 Toulouse 16

Edinburgh had to cling on when a late Jean-Baptiste Elissalde penalty left them with a two-point lead but Chris Paterson raced the length of the Toulouse half to link brilliantly with Brendan Laney, who galloped over to apply the killer touch.

Coach Frank Hadden said: "Off the field, the gulf between us and Toulouse has widened since we lost twice to them last season. The have more money at their disposal and we have less.

"But on the field, the gulf has obviously narrowed and that is very pleasing."

Hadden, whose side also scored tries through Scott Murray and Nathan Hines, refused to be drawn on Edinburgh's chances of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

Toulouse coach Guy Noves admitted: "Edinburgh deserved to win. They were hungrier and more determined to win the 50-50 situations."

There was further French agony at the Causeway Stadium as Warren Gatland's Wasps routed last season's beaten finalists, Perpignan.

Gatland watched his side romp to a 28-7 victory, boosted by the return of English World Cup heroes, including Josh Lewsey who scored a brace of tries and centre Stuart Abbott, who also touched down.

"We have never done ourselves particularly proud in the Heineken Cup," said Gatland, whose side returned to European Cup action after being crowned last season's Parker Pen Challenge Cup winners.

"This club can be brilliant on its day but in the past we have been inconsistent from match to match.

"We want to try and build on last season's effort and become a consistent and difficult side to beat. We are on the right track to do that."

World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio also believes Wasps have proved that they can take on anyone in Europe after opening their European campaign in style.

"Perpignan are a quality side and in my opinion they are a better team than they were last season when they reached the final.

Leeds coach Phil Davies hailed their display in the 29-20 Heineken Cup win over Neath-Swansea Ospreys as a "landmark occasion" for the club.

Leeds had to endure a second-half fightback from the Welshmen but ran out winners at Headingley with Gordon Ross kicking 19 points.

"It was as good a performance as a Leeds team has put in the first half," Davies said. "I thought it was a landmark occasion for the club today.

"Four years to the day we were playing West Hartlepool in National League Division One and now we are making our debut in the Heineken Cup."