With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's Top 14. However, the opening round featured a number of impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more prepared to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend offensive flair – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their guests at arm's length when they threatened a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the roster, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage a year ago was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious five points.
By achieving this, they gave their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, in turn, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
