Following the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's top flight. But, the opening round included multiple impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the title this year. But, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with that pair on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in this competition came almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more prepared to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend creative spark – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their opponents at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and top the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
You will find powerful sides in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring 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 occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
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 last year no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and began 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 players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
