Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's top flight. Yet, the opening round included several statement victories from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been better equipped to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at bay when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the squad, they are surely credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
There are strong teams in every pool, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they provided their hopes of advancing a positive start and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would predict to be challenging at the later stages 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. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to have a long run in the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently second in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
