Now that the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations stemming from the fixtures.
French dominance has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage included multiple convincing performances from new contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title now. But, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way domestically after six games and will be looking to translate that form into the Champions Cup – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools the previous year was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy to their name and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but their section looks set 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 triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable five points.
In doing so, they provided their chances of progressing a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would predict to be challenging at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling 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 win the championship, but they were caught out and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their aspirations, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
