With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. However, the first weekend included several convincing performances from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine attacking verve – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their visitors at a distance when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves all over the team, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools last season occurred in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship 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 this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a major lift and, conversely, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a South African side to progress far in the competition, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
