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With the first round of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. However, the initial stage featured several convincing performances from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat this season. But, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.

Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.

However, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.

French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with such firepower on the edges is a threat against any competition.

Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title

Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more prepared to win it again.

The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit last year.

Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.

They blend creative spark – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.

Having secured a domestic championship to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start

The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.

The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.

By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a damaging defeat to the Sharks.

With the French giants – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?

When considering a contender you would expect to be challenging at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

Yet in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.

This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

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

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

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 no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams used.

Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.

The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to progress far in the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.

The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter

There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.

Pau have been enjoying a superb campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

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