With the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. But, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the accomplishment now. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into Europe – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They marry creative spark – earning the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at arm's length when they threatened a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the squad, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his first appearance 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 Look Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their aspirations, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
