Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's top flight. Yet, the opening round showcased multiple impressive wins from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth all over the roster, they must be viewed as credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but their section appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable five points.
By achieving this, they provided their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
