Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. But, the opening round featured a number of convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the feat this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side boasting internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the second period, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the break.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the edges stands a good chance against any opponent.
Formidable Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They blend offensive flair – earning the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at bay when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth all over the roster, they are surely genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the initial phase a year ago occurred in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but the first group seems destined 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 win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just prove crucial.
The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the French giants – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we can expect many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was thought that All Black star 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 semi-final.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his first appearance 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 Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side managed to make it out of the group stage, with several weakened teams used.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with individuals involved talking about their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to go deep into the competition, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and that clash was right up there.
Pau have been having a brilliant campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
