Following the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the major talking points stemming from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage included multiple statement victories from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment now. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the break.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any side with those two on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their opponents at bay when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
You will find 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 winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important five points.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in years to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led 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
