Following the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's elite division. Yet, the initial stage featured a number of statement victories from new challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the title this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals 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, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the edges is a threat against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase last season was in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a league trophy under their belt and leading the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
There are strong teams in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing 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 All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring 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 occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back 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
