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Following the initial matches of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the major talking points highlighted by the fixtures.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's elite division. However, the initial stage featured a number of convincing performances from emerging rivals.

Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in Europe a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.

Lying sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the accomplishment now. But, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.

Handed a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.

However, demonstrating their pedigree, 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 break.

French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the wings has a chance against any competition.

Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not 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 carry that momentum into Europe – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.

Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.

They combine offensive flair – securing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their opponents at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves throughout the team, they must be viewed as credible threats for a continental title since 1998.

Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year was in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.

After winning a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow

The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.

In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.

The Glasgow Warriors 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.

With this result, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.

With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.

And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?

Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

However in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were ambushed and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.

This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut 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 Seem Prepared to Challenge

Since the South African sides entered 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 selected.

Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with individuals involved expressing their ambition, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.

The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.

Saints and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest

There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.

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

They are right now in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's