With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all representing France's top flight. Yet, the first weekend showcased multiple convincing performances from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring 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 found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the wings is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage last season came in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, dealt a hefty blow to their opponents.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
