Following the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. However, the opening round featured several impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with those two on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the roster, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title under their belt and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, handed a significant setback to their opponents.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing 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 hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in 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 encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a SA franchise to have a long run in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
