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Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations stemming from the games.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all calling home France's Top 14. However, the first weekend showcased several convincing performances from emerging rivals.

Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.

Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the title this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Faced with a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.

But, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the interval.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with that pair on the edges has a chance against any competition.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance

Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more prepared to add a second star.

The current English champions are top of the pile at home 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 side looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the URC.

They blend attacking verve – securing the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at bay when they looked like mounting a fightback.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.

Now with a league trophy to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback

You will find powerful sides throughout the draw, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.

In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.

The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second period gave them a all-important five points.

By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, conversely, handed a significant setback to Sale.

With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.

And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in a long time to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.

Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?

Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.

But in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.

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

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

Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge

Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams selected.

Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.

Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match

There were a few contenders for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.

Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

They are currently second in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's