Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the key revelations stemming from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured several impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat now. But, in round one, 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.
Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the wings has a chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more prepared to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – securing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their visitors at arm's length when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a domestic championship to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
You will find quality outfits throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important five points.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be in the mix at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
But in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition 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 endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides selected.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to progress far in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
