Following the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's top flight. However, the opening round included multiple convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this year. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the wings is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition was almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad throughout the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools a year ago came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
By achieving this, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, dealt a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved expressing their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
