With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has ruled the roost in recent years, with the last five champions all hailing from France's Top 14. Yet, the first weekend showcased several impressive wins from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.
But, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second half, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the edges is a threat against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to translate that form into Europe – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They combine creative spark – earning the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago occurred in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important five points.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides fielded.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with the squad and staff speaking of their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a South African side to have a long run in the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
