With the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's elite division. But, the first weekend featured multiple convincing performances from new contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the break.
France international aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the edges is a threat against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into Europe – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They marry creative spark – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth all over the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season occurred in the following week, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
There are quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, conversely, dealt a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in a long time to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look 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 last eight, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with often rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their goals, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
