With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage showcased multiple impressive wins from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition came almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They blend offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at arm's length when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the roster, they have to be considered serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important five points.
With this result, they provided their hopes of advancing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would predict to be challenging at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 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 secure the title, but they were surprised and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength selected.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a South African side to have a long run in the event, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
