Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we examine the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. But, the initial stage featured a number of impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting internationals 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 displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They combine creative spark – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the squad, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage the previous year came in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, in turn, handed a significant setback to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength selected.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began 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 the squad and staff speaking of their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, spearheaded 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 crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
