Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. However, the first weekend featured a number of convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this season. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.
Handed a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they displayed their class in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the flanks has a chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.
The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be aiming 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 very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – earning the bonus point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their opponents at arm's length when they attempted a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the group stage the previous year occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a domestic championship under their belt and top in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start
You will find quality outfits in every pool, but their section looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down 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 handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, in turn, handed a significant setback to the Sharks.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams used.
Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches talking about their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the best bet for a South African side to have a long run in the tournament, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
