Following the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we examine the key revelations highlighted by the weekend's action.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured several impressive wins from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second half, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with those two on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their guests at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season occurred in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they provided their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to Sale.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists 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 round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a superb season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
