Following the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's Top 14. But, the opening round featured multiple statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the accomplishment now. But, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with that pair on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – securing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the squad, they are surely genuine challengers 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 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
There are quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important five points.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, handed a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, 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 scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season none of them was able to progress out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with individuals involved talking about their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's