Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all calling home France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round showcased a number of impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this season. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the break.
France international machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They combine attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their opponents at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools last season occurred in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a league trophy to their name and leading the home league, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, dealt a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would expect 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 promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 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 secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
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 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered 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 was able to progress out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a South African side to progress far in the event, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
