Now that the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the major talking points emerging from the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all representing France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage featured several convincing performances from new contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth across the roster, they have to be considered serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools a year ago was in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff talking about their goals, and the players such as stars 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 event, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
