With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the key revelations highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all representing France's top flight. But, the opening round included a number of impressive wins from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
Yet, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in this competition was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into Europe – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their opponents at bay when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage last season came in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy under their belt and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important five points.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, dealt a hefty blow to Sale.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the best bet for a SA franchise to progress far in the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
