Now that the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the key revelations stemming from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. But, the initial stage showcased multiple impressive wins from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this year. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of securing back-to-back titles with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.
France international aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend creative spark – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at a distance when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the team, they must be viewed as credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season came in the following week, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship under their belt and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback
There are strong teams everywhere you look, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
By achieving this, they handed their prospects of qualification a positive start and, conversely, dealt a hefty blow to Sale.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were surprised and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often rotated sides fielded.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the best bet for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides 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 having a brilliant season, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
