With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's elite division. But, the opening round included multiple statement victories from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the feat this year. However, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second half, roaring 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 side with such firepower on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps 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 carry that momentum into Europe – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They marry offensive flair – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at bay when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as 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 pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a domestic championship in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
You will find powerful sides in every pool, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they provided their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 victors over 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 stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over 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 entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches expressing their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the competition, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
