With the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent years, with the last five champions all hailing from France's elite division. However, the first weekend featured several statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring machines Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the flanks has a chance against any competition.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They blend offensive flair – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at arm's length when they threatened a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves across the team, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year was in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a league trophy in their history and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow
You will find powerful sides in every pool, but the first group looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
With this result, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now 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 success against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Equipped to Compete
Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and last year not a single one succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers look the best bet for a South African side to progress far in the competition, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been having a superb season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
