Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. Yet, the opening round featured a number of convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title this year. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with such firepower on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining 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 a deep squad all over the squad, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a Premiership title in their history and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day 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 five points.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Finalists 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 round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season none of them was able to progress out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides fielded.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved expressing their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
