With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. But, the first weekend showcased several impressive wins from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title now. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry creative spark – securing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at bay when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth across the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season came in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
There are strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.
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 Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to Sale.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered 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 pool phase, with often squads not at full strength selected.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did face formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
