With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all representing France's elite division. However, the first weekend showcased multiple impressive wins from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their chances of defending the feat this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning another trophy with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the break.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with those two on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition was almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into Europe – particularly following a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – securing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at a distance when they threatened a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the roster, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were ambushed and experienced a shock loss 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 first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
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 in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved talking about their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
