With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the games.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. But, the first weekend showcased several convincing performances from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form 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 balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their visitors at arm's length when they attempted a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but their section seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, conversely, dealt a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be challenging at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams used.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers look the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the event, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
