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With the initial matches of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations stemming from the games.

French dominance has ruled the roost in recent years, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. However, the first weekend featured multiple statement victories from new contenders.

Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.

Lying sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat now. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are more than capable of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.

Faced with a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a formidable Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.

However, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with such firepower on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.

Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in this competition came almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.

The current English champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.

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

They marry offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad all over the team, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.

Now with a domestic championship to their name and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback

You will find quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One seems destined 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 win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.

The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable five points.

In doing so, they gave their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to their opponents.

With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for many thrilling contests.

And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.

Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?

When considering a contender you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.

Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was thought 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 last four.

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

Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.

Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, although do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.

Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest

There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.

Pau have been having a superb campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.

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