Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured several impressive wins from potential contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in Europe the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title now. But, in round one, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of securing consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with those two on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been better equipped to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way at home after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into continental competition – particularly following a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry creative spark – sealing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad all over the roster, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools last season came in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a rotated team.
Now with a Premiership title in their history and leading the home league, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
In doing so, they provided their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, handed a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction 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 suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance 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 Appear Ready to Step Up
Since the South African sides entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of 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 appear the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, yet do not rule out 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 right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a brilliant campaign, guided by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
