Following the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations stemming from the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. However, the first weekend included multiple convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their guests at bay when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth all over the squad, they are surely genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools last season occurred in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable five points.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped 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.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with often rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that changes? 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 positive too, with the squad and staff talking about their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
