With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations stemming from the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's elite division. However, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with those two on the edges has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into Europe – particularly following a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their visitors at a distance when they threatened a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the team, they have to be considered serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase last season was in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship in their history and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but the first group looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, dealt a damaging defeat to Sale.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were ambushed and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them was able to progress out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved talking about their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a SA franchise to have a long run in the competition, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
