Following the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the initial stage included multiple statement victories from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the feat this season. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with those two on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their guests at a distance when they threatened a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad throughout the team, they must be viewed as credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase a year ago occurred in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a league trophy to their name and top the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
There are strong teams throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, conversely, dealt a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides fielded.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to have a long run in the competition, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
