Following the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. However, the opening round featured a number of impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the feat this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – earning the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools last season came in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a Premiership title under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
There are strong teams in every pool, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
In doing so, they handed their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance 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 Appear Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams fielded.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a South African side to have a long run in the event, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
