With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. However, the opening round showcased a number of convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the feat now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the edges has a chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage the previous year came in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a domestic championship under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important five points.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, in turn, dealt a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in a long time to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength fielded.
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 the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a outstanding season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
