With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. However, the initial stage included several convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the feat now. But, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second period, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings stands a good chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at arm's length when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year was in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they handed their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, in turn, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were ambushed and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with several rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their goals, and the caliber 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, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
