Following the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. Yet, the initial stage featured a number of convincing performances from new challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
But, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with those two on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They combine attacking verve – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the squad, they are surely genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season came in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, 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 secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding season, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
