Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the games.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all representing France's Top 14. But, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They blend attacking verve – sealing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the squad, they are surely credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase a year ago came in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns 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 following 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 Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with several weakened teams fielded.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to have a long run in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
