With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we examine the key revelations stemming from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all hailing from France's top flight. But, the initial stage featured a number of statement victories from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress 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 the break.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools a year ago was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains powerful sides everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
