Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. But, the first weekend showcased multiple convincing performances from new contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning another trophy with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
But, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with those two on the wings has a chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend attacking verve – sealing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year came in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, by contrast, dealt a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look 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 last year none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with several rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the event, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
