With the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the games.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all hailing from France's Top 14. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of impressive wins from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their chances of defending the accomplishment now. However, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of securing another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
But, 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 halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the wings has a chance against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have probably never been better equipped to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They marry attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth all over the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season occurred in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a league trophy to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
There are strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be challenging at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to progress far in the event, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, spearheaded by Pumas 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
