With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. But, the initial stage featured multiple convincing performances from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in Europe came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more prepared to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend creative spark – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their visitors at bay when they threatened a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools the previous year came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship to their name and leading in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would expect to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams selected.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with the squad and staff speaking of their goals, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up 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 brilliant season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
