Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons stemming from the games.
French dominance has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. However, the first weekend showcased several statement victories from new challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the feat now. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into Europe – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine creative spark – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the squad, they are surely genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools the previous year came in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important five points.
In doing so, they gave their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing 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 Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to have a long run in the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
