Charles Piutau's try from fullback was not quite enough as Ulster fell 15-14 to Munster.
Glasgow's new signing from Waikato, lock Brian Alainu'uese, came off the bench in their 31-14 victory over Treviso, for whom Jayden Hayward (15) and Dean Budd (6) featured.
In the Aviva Premiership, New Zealanders scored all the points, other than one penalty try, in the Wasps-Falcons clash, won 31-6 by Wasps.
For the victors, first five Jimmy Gopperth scored a try and kicked six goals for 21 points, while former All Blacks wing Frank Halai also crossed the whitewash. Mike Delany kicked two penalty goals for Newcastle.
Nick Evans slotted four penalty goals as Harlequins repulsed Worcester 36-14. Jackson Willison, at centre, scored a try for the Warriors.
Kahn Fotuali'i's Bath edged Thomas Waldrom's Exeter 13-10, while Sale, who had Johnny Leota and Bryn Evans in their ranks, beat winless Bristol 31-13. Mark Sorenson and Anthony Perenise started in the Bristol pack.
While one Saracens wing - Nathan Earle - was winning a Mitre 10 Cup Premiership with Canterbury, another Sarries flyer - Sean Maitland - was scoring for the club in their 24-10 win over Leicester Tigers, who fielded Mike FitzGerald and Brendon O'Connor.
Northampton, who included George Pisi, James Wilson, Michael Paterson and Ahsee Tuala, edged Gloucester, who played John Afoa, Joe Latta, Willi Heinz and Motu Matu'u, 23-20.
In the French Top 14, Racing-Metro won 16-3 at Bayonne in a clash that featured no less than five yellow cards, two of them to Bayonne wing Kade Poki and lock Tom Donnelly.
There was a total of nine Kiwis involved: the carded duo Ryan Tongia, Manu Leiataua and Pelu Taele for the home team and Joe Rokocoko, Chris Masoe, Anthony Tuitavake and Ben Tameifuna for the Parisians.
A late penalty goal to Ben Botica, perhaps inspired by the Mitre 10 Championship victory of his old North Harbour province, saw Montpellier home 12-11 over La Rochelle, despite a try to Uini Atonio.
A try 12 minutes from fulltime to former Auckland lock/loose forward Joe Tekori gave Toulouse a 24-20 result in the local derby with Pau, for whom Tom Taylor kicked four goals.
Ma'a Nonu's Toulon scored a 42-12 win over Steven Setephano and Nigel Hunt's Grenoble.
Paul Williams started at centre in Stade Francais' 25-19 victory over Lyon, for whom Mike Harris, at No 10, kicked four goals.
Isaia Toeava was at second five as Clermont crushed Brive 40-16. Benson Stanley and Hosea Gear both came off the bench for Clermont.
David Smith's Castres beat Bordeaux-Begles, for whom centre Jayden Spence scored a try and Luke Braid wore the No 7 jersey.
