With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we examine the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's top flight. But, the opening round featured several impressive wins from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
However, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with such firepower on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend offensive flair – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the squad, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a domestic championship in their history and leading in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
There are powerful sides throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites 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 hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches expressing their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
