Now that the first round of the latest Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's top flight. But, the opening round featured several statement victories from new challengers.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat now. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.
Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in Europe was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves all over the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase a year ago came in the following week, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they gave their prospects of qualification a major lift and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to the Sharks.
With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with several rotated sides fielded.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
