With the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's top flight. However, the initial stage featured a number of statement victories from emerging challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title now. But, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point 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 team with those two on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They blend creative spark – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year occurred in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a league trophy under their belt and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
You will find powerful sides throughout the draw, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in years to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be challenging at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were caught out and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a SA franchise to have a long run in the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
