Following the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. But, the first weekend included multiple convincing performances from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title now. However, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of securing another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in this competition was almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the roster, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools last season came in the following week, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title to their name and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable five points.
By achieving this, they handed their prospects of qualification a major lift and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with several weakened teams fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for match of the round, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's