With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations emerging from the games.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. But, the opening round showcased a number of statement victories from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to translate that form into the Champions Cup – especially after a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their visitors at arm's length when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
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 genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools a year ago came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a league trophy under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about 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 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 handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to their opponents.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in recent memory to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
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 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with often rotated sides selected.
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 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
