With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. But, the first weekend showcased a number of impressive wins from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the feat this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
But, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with those two on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into the Champions Cup – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – earning the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, holding their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and strength in depth throughout the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a Premiership title to their name and leading in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about 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 Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they gave their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in years to stun three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?
Should you pick one side you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.
Now they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign no South African side was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often rotated sides fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to have a long run in the event, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a superb campaign, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
