With the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points emerging from the games.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be looking to translate that form into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They marry creative spark – earning the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad all over the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year came in the following week, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
There are strong teams in every pool, but Pool One 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 turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they provided their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, inflicted a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his first appearance 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 Appear Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength selected.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their continental journey 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 ambition, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
