With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's elite division. Yet, the opening round showcased a number of statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They blend creative spark – sealing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools a year ago was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy to their name and leading in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important five points.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, in turn, dealt a significant setback to Sale.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist 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 occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved expressing their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
