With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of statement victories from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the feat now. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with such firepower on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad throughout the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a domestic championship under their belt and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
You will find powerful sides throughout the draw, but Pool One looks set 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 the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a all-important five points.
In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, in turn, handed a significant setback to their opponents.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often weakened teams fielded.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
