With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations emerging from the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
However, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the wings is a threat against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools the previous year was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win 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 suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a South African side to have a long run in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
