With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations emerging from the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's Top 14. But, the first weekend showcased a number of statement victories from new challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with those two on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend attacking verve – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves throughout the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises became part of 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 plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their goals, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
