With the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all representing France's elite division. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress 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, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more prepared to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the roster, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools a year ago occurred in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a Premiership title to their name and top the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were surprised and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of weakened teams used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were positive too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's