With the first round of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. However, the opening round featured a number of convincing performances from new challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title now. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
However, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend creative spark – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their guests at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the team, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools a year ago came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
You will find quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they provided their hopes of advancing a major lift and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams selected.
Could this be the season that is different? 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 post-match comments were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
