Now that the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all representing France's Top 14. However, the first weekend featured multiple statement victories from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the edges is a threat against any competition.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup dates back almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their opponents at a distance when they attempted a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth across the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season was in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but their section seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground 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 fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to go deep into the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
