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 the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's Top 14. However, the first weekend showcased a number of impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of securing back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They combine creative spark – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year came in the second round, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a league trophy to their name and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second period gave them a valuable five points.
By achieving this, they gave their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Finalists 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 last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with often rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to progress far in the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
