Now that the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations stemming from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. But, the first weekend included multiple convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the feat this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth all over the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a league trophy in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
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 existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, 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 fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, 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 last season after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and last year no South African side succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure 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 talking about their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the tournament, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
