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Now that the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the key revelations emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all hailing from France's top flight. But, the initial stage included a number of impressive wins from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.

Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing another trophy with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.

Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.

However, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the break.

France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.

Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in Europe was almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.

The current English champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.

Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the United Rugby Championship.

They marry creative spark – securing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and quality reserves throughout the team, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the initial phase last season came in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.

Now with a Premiership title under their belt and leading in England once more, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start

There are strong teams everywhere you look, but the first group looks set to be one of the most competitive.

In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, 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 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.

In doing so, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.

With the French giants – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.

And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.

Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?

When considering a contender you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.

Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.

This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.

Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.

The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.

The Stormers appear the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.

Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest

There were several candidates for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.

Pau have been experiencing a superb season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker 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