With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. However, the initial stage featured several statement victories from new rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title this season. However, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side including talents 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 – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have perhaps 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 Europe – particularly following a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago occurred in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they provided their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have promised much but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were surprised and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his debut 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 Seem Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
