Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we explore the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's Top 14. However, the first weekend featured several impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning another trophy with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in this competition came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year occurred in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand 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 emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be challenging at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with individuals involved expressing their goals, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
