With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. But, the initial stage featured multiple statement victories from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat now. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals 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 showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with those two on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry offensive flair – securing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad throughout the squad, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase last season occurred in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a league trophy to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
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 precious maximum haul.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential 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 round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were ambushed 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 debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and in the last campaign no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with players and coaches speaking of their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to progress far in the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
