With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all calling home France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round featured multiple statement victories from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this year. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the break.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine creative spark – securing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad throughout the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools the previous year occurred in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a major lift and, by contrast, handed a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
