Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured multiple statement victories from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing another trophy with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine creative spark – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at bay when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools the previous year was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back 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
