Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the major talking points stemming from the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all representing France's Top 14. But, the first weekend featured multiple convincing performances from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the feat this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with that pair on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more prepared to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the URC.
They marry attacking verve – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their opponents at arm's length when they threatened a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools last season was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a league trophy to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, dealt a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect 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 shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout 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 win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed 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 time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined 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 managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and began 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 the squad and staff talking about their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
