Following the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
French dominance has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's Top 14. But, the opening round showcased a number of statement victories from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the feat this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing back-to-back titles with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth all over the squad, they must be viewed as credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage last season was in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a league trophy to their name and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find powerful sides in every pool, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, conversely, dealt a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities 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 veteran playmaker 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
