With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations emerging from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. However, the initial stage featured multiple statement victories from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title now. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the edges stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more prepared to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend creative spark – earning the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
There are powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
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 five points.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in a long time to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides used.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
