Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
French dominance has been the narrative in recent years, with the previous five victors all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round featured multiple convincing performances from new challengers.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of securing back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
Yet, as champions do, they showed their quality in the second period, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more prepared to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.
They blend creative spark – sealing the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their visitors at arm's length when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage a year ago came in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a all-important maximum haul.
With this result, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect plenty of fireworks.
And as for Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in recent memory to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with often squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with the squad and staff expressing their ambition, and the likes of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to progress far in the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce 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, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
