With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. However, the opening round included a number of statement victories from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine creative spark – securing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad all over the squad, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage last season came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a domestic championship to their name and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year no South African side succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with players and coaches speaking of their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to have a long run in the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
