Major Lessons following the Champions Cup's First Round
Now that the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. But, the opening round included a number of convincing performances from new challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
However, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second half, storming back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
France international machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with those two on the flanks has a chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in Europe was almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into the Champions Cup – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They combine attacking verve – securing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they threatened a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the team, they are surely genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage a year ago was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a league trophy in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 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 secure the title, but they were ambushed and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to have a long run in the competition, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a outstanding season, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
