Following the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points emerging from the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. But, the first weekend featured multiple statement victories from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title this season. But, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with those two on the flanks is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in this competition was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more prepared to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They marry creative spark – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their visitors at a distance when they attempted a late rally.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the team, they have to be considered credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase a year ago was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
After winning a league trophy to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains quality outfits throughout the draw, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important maximum haul.
By achieving this, they provided their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to Sale.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in years to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his debut 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 Seem Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of rotated sides selected.
Will this be the campaign that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved speaking of their aspirations, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the tournament, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
