Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. However, the opening round included multiple impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title now. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the interval.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend creative spark – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their visitors at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools last season was in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a league trophy in their history and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
By achieving this, they provided their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season none of them succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches speaking of their aspirations, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
