Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the first weekend included a number of convincing performances from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with those two on the edges has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at a distance when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the roster, they are surely genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
There are powerful sides everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be in the mix at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass 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 time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
