With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
French dominance has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured multiple statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat now. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the break.
France international machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the flanks stands a good chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into Europe – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They combine attacking verve – earning the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves throughout the roster, they have to be considered serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools the previous year came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
You will find powerful sides in every pool, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
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 fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but fallen short. 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 round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength fielded.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a SA franchise to progress far in the competition, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for match of the round, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
