Now that the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the key revelations highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's elite division. However, the initial stage included multiple impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have probably never been better equipped to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine attacking verve – securing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at arm's length when they threatened a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, by contrast, handed a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were caught out and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup 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 furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff expressing their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a superb season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
