With the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's Top 14. However, the first weekend included a number of convincing performances from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat now. However, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of securing another trophy with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend offensive flair – earning the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at bay when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad all over the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year was in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious five points.
By achieving this, they provided their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be challenging at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look 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 was able to progress out of the group stage, with often weakened teams used.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their goals, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
