With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's top flight. But, the first weekend featured a number of convincing performances from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the feat this year. But, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the interval.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in Europe came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – securing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their guests at bay when they attempted a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves across the squad, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year occurred in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important maximum haul.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved expressing their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
