Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we examine the key revelations emerging from the games.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. However, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's sole success in this competition was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine creative spark – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at a distance when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth all over the squad, they must be viewed as credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year occurred in the second round, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and top domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road 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 at the start of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, but write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now second in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
