Following the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the feat this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing another trophy with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks stands a good chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at arm's length when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the team, they are surely genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools a year ago came in the second round, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
