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With the opening salvo of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points emerging from the games.

French dominance has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. However, the first weekend showcased several convincing performances from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back

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

Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.

Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.

Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.

France international aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the flanks is a threat against any competition.

Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to secure another title.

The current English champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.

Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.

They blend offensive flair – earning the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping 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 quality reserves throughout the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.

Bath's key result in the pools last season was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.

After winning a Premiership title in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow

The tournament contains powerful sides everywhere you look, but the first group appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

In the existing pool system, a lot is said about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.

The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a all-important five points.

In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.

With the French giants – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.

And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.

Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?

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

But in recent seasons it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was hoped that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.

Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

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

Stormers Look Ready to Step Up

From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams selected.

Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.

The words from players and coaches were promising too, with individuals involved talking about their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the round-one win.

The Stormers appear the best bet for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.

The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter

There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.

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

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