With the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations emerging from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's top flight. However, the first weekend showcased a number of statement victories from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with those two on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into Europe – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend attacking verve – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at bay when they threatened a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad all over the squad, they are surely genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a league trophy in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with several rotated sides fielded.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with players and coaches speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to progress far in the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
