Now that the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. However, the opening round featured multiple impressive wins from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the feat now. But, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in this competition came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to win it again.
The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a domestic championship under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
There are powerful sides in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
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 Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, 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. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are leading 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 encouraging too, with players and coaches speaking of their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the best bet for a SA franchise to progress far in the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb season, guided by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
