Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the primary lessons emerging from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. Yet, the initial stage showcased a number of statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with that pair on the flanks is a threat against any competition.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They combine offensive flair – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage last season was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a league trophy under their belt and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in recent memory to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would predict to be in the mix at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
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 last year none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are leading 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 ambition, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
