Now that the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we examine the primary lessons stemming from the fixtures.
French dominance has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's Top 14. However, the initial stage featured multiple impressive wins from new challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition the previous campaign, dismantling 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 accomplishment this year. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with those two on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in this competition came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend creative spark – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at arm's length when they threatened a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a league trophy to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but their section appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with the squad and staff talking about their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face formidable opponents respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Memorable Match
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
