With the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the first weekend included multiple impressive wins from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the feat this year. However, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at half-time.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with such firepower on the wings is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry creative spark – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the team, they are surely credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase a year ago was in the following week, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and top domestically again, Van Graan might decide to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
There are strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they provided their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, handed a hefty blow to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, in the same section, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one was able to progress out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers seem the most likely contender for a South African side to progress far in the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
