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With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons stemming from the weekend's action.

Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all representing France's top flight. Yet, the opening round included multiple convincing performances from emerging contenders.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.

Lying sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Handed a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.

Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the break.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the edges is a threat against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run

Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, 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 hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit last year.

Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.

They blend attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their guests at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the team, they are surely credible threats for a continental title since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season occurred in the second round, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.

Now with a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback

You will find strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.

The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.

In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.

With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.

And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.

Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?

Should you pick one side you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.

Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, 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 the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and suffered a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.

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

Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength fielded.

Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.

The words from players and coaches were positive too, with individuals involved expressing their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.

The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the event, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest

There were several candidates for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.

Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back 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