With the first round of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we examine the key revelations highlighted by the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round included a number of statement victories from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – sealing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth across the roster, they have to be considered serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools the previous year was in the second round, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end 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 fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing 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 final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to progress far in the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
