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Now that the opening salvo of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.

Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the past five winners all calling home France's top flight. However, the opening round featured multiple statement victories from potential contenders.

Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.

Currently sitting sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.

Handed a difficult tie at a hostile venue 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 the interval.

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

French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any opponent.

Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run

Bath's sole success in this competition came almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.

The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be looking to translate that form into the Champions Cup – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.

They blend creative spark – sealing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.

With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth all over the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.

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

Now with a league trophy under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback

You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but their section seems destined to be one of the most competitive.

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

The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a all-important five points.

In doing so, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to Sale.

With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.

And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?

If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.

Yet in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

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

Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?

Stormers Look Equipped to Compete

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 last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several rotated sides selected.

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

The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.

The Stormers look the best bet for a team from South Africa to progress far in the tournament, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.

The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match

There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was among the best.

Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

They are right now runner-up in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's