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Following the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the first weekend featured multiple impressive wins from new challengers.

Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the grand finale.

Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.

Given a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.

Yet, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the interval.

French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title

Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup dates back almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.

The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.

They combine offensive flair – securing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they attempted a dramatic comeback.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth all over the roster, they are surely credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the initial phase the previous year came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.

After winning a league trophy to their name and top in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.

Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start

You will find strong teams 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 triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.

The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important maximum haul.

With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, conversely, dealt a significant setback to Sale.

With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.

And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.

Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?

If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.

However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.

This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.

Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?

Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete

Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and last year not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.

Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff speaking of their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.

The Stormers look the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match

There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.

Pau have been having a outstanding season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.

They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's