With the opening salvo 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 the past few campaigns, with the last five champions all representing France's top flight. But, the first weekend included several convincing performances from potential challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the title this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at the Bulls' fortress against a powerful Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second period, roaring back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with such firepower on the edges has a chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile in the league after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and balanced unit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – earning the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their opponents at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth across the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase last season came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a domestic championship to their name and leading domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start
You will find strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable maximum haul.
In doing so, they provided their chances of progressing a significant early boost and, conversely, handed a significant setback to Sale.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were caught out and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with often weakened teams fielded.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are first in the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a SA franchise to go deep into the event, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat this weekend but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was among the best.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
