With the first round of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the games.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured multiple convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this year. But, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of winning back-to-back titles with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with those two on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.
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 attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago occurred in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a league trophy in their history and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
You will find quality outfits throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, 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 be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable five points.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent seasons 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 following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
