Following the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. But, the opening round featured a number of statement victories from new contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.
Yet, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the break.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season occurred in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground 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 early in the second period gave them a precious five points.
With this result, they handed their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to bring the trophy back 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 best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength selected.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved expressing their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to have a long run in the event, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
