With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the key revelations stemming from the games.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's Top 14. However, the initial stage included a number of impressive wins from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the accomplishment now. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of securing another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress 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.
Yet, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in this competition was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They blend attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the team, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have been favourites 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 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with often rotated sides selected.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
