Biggest Winners and Losers in World Rugby for Weekend of November 27-29

Toulon got their domestic season back on track on Saturday after the French heavy-hitters defeated Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne 35-9 in their own backyard.

The European champions weren't the only team to make major strides in league competition, though, as Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Wasps and Northampton Saints each continued good Premiership form.

Wasps did suffer a major blow, however, after seeing Christian Wade suffer a significant injury in the 32-6 win over Toulon on Nov. 22, putting his England place in doubt for the Six Nations.

We also have news from Down Under as Sam Burgess' return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs was set back. We discuss all that and more in this week's biggest winners and losers in world rugby.

Winner: Conquerors Connacht

Connacht clinched a small piece—or a rather substantial piece depending on where one hails from—of Irish rugby history on Saturday, when they defeated Munster 18-12 at Thomond Park, their first win there since 1986.

The visitors' win was especially impressive given Munster came into the matchup on the back of 13 successive home victories, but head coach Anthony Foley stated his lack of surprise at the shock result, per The42:

"

They might have surprised a few other people. But we played them in pre-season and it was a very similar game. We knew what was coming—they are only up the road from us, we keep a close eye on them. They play with a lot of pace, they play with a lot of intensity and you have to take it away from them. The big way to take it away from them is to keep the ball and unfortunately we didn’t do that.

We didn’t get the ball in the first-half, didn’t control it. When it was there to be contested they won it. Anything that broke, they won it. It was frustrating at half-time. In the second-half we got the ball went through phases and kept attacking them, and unfortunately we turned over ball at crucial moments particularly in the green zone. That ultimately cost us.

"

A late, acrobatic try from Bundee Aki sealed the four points for Connacht and pushed them to the head of the Pro12 standings as a result, with Ireland's minnow province in good stead to launch a title bid this season.

Four points clear at the summit and with a joint low of just one defeat to their name in the league, Pat Lam's side are clearly moving in the right direction.

Loser: Christian Wade

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What was shaping up to be a career-best season for Wasps winger Wade has swiftly turned to misery following ESPN Scrum's report he's set to miss two to three months with a foot injury.

As commentator Nick Heath attested, this puts the speedster's place in England's Six Nations squad in serious doubt, as he'll struggle to make an impression on newly appointed England coach Eddie Jones before the tournament.

It seems like typical luck for Wade, who has fallen victim to terrible timing when it comes to injury absences around major internationals in the past and may now have a slow start in 2016.

Winner: Triumphant Toulon

Toulon have lost more games this season (four) than any other team in the first half of the Top 14, but Saturday's win over Clermont at Marcel Michelin helped steer their campaign back on track.

We saw the continental titans suffer a 32-6 thrashing at the hands of Wasps last time out, but this was a much more positive display, with Toulon grabbing two tries either side of the half-time whistle to triumph 35-9.

Scrum-half Eric Escande scored 17 points in a man-of-the-match-worthy performance, while Drew Mitchell and Delon Armitage ensured the back three were in flying form with one try apiece.

Loser: Sam Burgess

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A very public departure from rugby union has seen Burgess draw attention since making the decision to return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but it emerged this week the move isn't quite complete.

Because of the National Rugby League's salary cap, it's likely more players will have to be released from the Russell Crowe-owned outfit, said ESPN Scrum. However, they remain confident of completing the move, saying: "The Rabbitohs look forward to the confirmation of Sam's contract in the coming weeks."

It might be more accurate in this instance to label some Rabbitohs fringe players the "losers" in this regard considering Burgess will be the priority ahead of his return to rugby league.

Nevertheless, it's more unwanted controversy swirling around the former England rugby union international, although commentator Brian Moore has hailed the NRL's stance when it comes to the wage restrictions.

Winner: Gareth Steenson

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Exeter Chiefs retained their place as Premiership crown contenders on Saturday after defeating Harlequins 26-25 at Sandy Park in what was arguably the most valuable result of the weekend.

Fly-half Gareth Steenson can be thanked for a tide-turning display in which he soared over the whitewash to amass a 21-point haul, kicking four penalties and both attempted conversions.

There was a small margin for error for Exeter as Quins grabbed no fewer than four tries of their own, but Steenson maintained a cool head to keep the Chiefs within three points of Premiership leaders, Saracens.