Talking points from Scottish sides' first block of URC fixtures

After the first six weeks, defending champions Glasgow Warriors are in second place despite two defeats, and sit six points adrift of unbeaten leaders Leinster. 

But the Warriors have successfully negotiated a tricky trip to South Africa and returned with an impressive haul of seven points from an available 10. 

Read more:

• Huw Jones believes Glasgow Warriors sent URC message against Stormers

• The Pen: It is a travesty Johnny Matthews is not in the Scotland squad

Edinburgh, meanwhile, have won just two of their first six games and sit 10th in the table - the same position they finished in last season.

However, Sean Everitt's side are only six points off the Bulls in third. 

Here are six things we learned from the first block of URC matches. 

Glasgow Warriors

No hangover from title win 

Glasgow have shown in their six matches so far that they are absolutely intent on defending the title they won against the odds in Pretoria in June. 

Their big-match players like Jack Dempsey and Sione Tuipulotu have stepped up once more at the beginning of this season and delivered some stand-out performances as the Warriors look to put themselves in contention for a home play-off at the end of the season. 

Glasgow are out to retain the title they won in Pretoria (Image: Getty) With their South Africa trip navigated, they will hope to kick on further in the next round of matches, with the 1872 Cup next on their list. 

Serious strength in depth 

The success of last season was built on Franco Smith's ability to use his squad, with Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie and Jamie Dobie among those who played pivotal roles in the campaign despite not being first names on the team sheet. 

That has continued into this season, with some important contributions - including the bonus point try in Saturday's win over the Stormers - from Henco Venter, while one-cap Wallabies prop Sam Talakai has established himself as a useful deputy to Zander Fagerson. 

Sam Talakai has proved a useful signing for Glasgow (Image: SNS) That squad depth will be tested when the Warriors kick-off their Champions Cup campaign alongside the return to league action

Super Sione

The Glasgow centre has been in sparkling form at the beginning of the new campaign. His demolition job against Cardiff has been the highlight so far, though his showing against the Stormers in Stellenbosch wasn't far behind.  

Sione Tuipulotu is such an important player for Glasgow (Image: SNS) Gregor Townsend has been suitably impressed and handed Tuipulotu - who has led Glasgow in the absence of Kyle Steyn recently - the Scotland captaincy with the hope that he continues to thrive with the added responsibility.

If he keeps up his current form, he will be on track for achieving his aim of becoming a British and Irish Lion next summer. 

Edinburgh Rugby

Away form a concern already

Edinburgh's two wins, against Cardiff and Stormers, have both come at Hive Stadium, while the 55-21 shellacking by the Lions will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons as Edinburgh shipped seven first-half tries to trail 48-0, a league record, at half-time. 

Dewi Lake scored Ospreys' opening try in Saturday's 22-13 win over Edinburgh (Image: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO/Shutterstock) They put right some of the wrongs from those matches with their back-to-back bonus point wins, but the performance in Saturday's defeat to Ospreys was again way below what is expected from a side littered with internationals. 

Attack still hasn't fired

Over the summer, Edinburgh identified their attack as an area of the game needing work. They brought in Scott Mathie, a long-time colleague of head coach Sean Everitt who had won consecutive Major League Rugby (MLR) titles with the  New England Free Jacks. 

However, it is a big step up from MLR to the URC and while there were signs of promise against Cardiff, Edinburgh's attacking game has largely struggled in the first six games.

Edinburgh have found themselves relying on moments of magic from the likes of Darcy Graham, whose return to fitness has been a welcome boost (Image: SNS) It was so bad against the Lions, Scotland fly-half Ben Healy was dropped from the side with Everitt saying they were "directionless" in Johannesburg. The performances of his replacement Ross Thompson has been one of the more encouraging aspects of Edinburgh's opening block. 

Signs of promise from youngsters

While they will not be content with their league placing after the first tranche of matches, Edinburgh can be encouraged by the performances of a couple of young Scottish forwards. 

Paddy Harrison has been one of Edinburgh's stand-out performers so far this season (Image: SNS) Paddy Harrison was thrust into the Lions match with the result already beyond Edinburgh, though the young hooker led from the front and scored a second half try. He continued his good form against Stormers and Cardiff, and was a miss as he sat out the defeat to Ospreys. 

Ben Muncaster was likewise excellent during the two home wins and, like Harrison, has earned a call-up to the Scotland squad off the back of his performances.