Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons emerging from the games.
French dominance has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. But, the opening round included a number of convincing performances from new challengers.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title now. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Handed a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Formidable Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to secure another title.
The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into Europe – on the back of a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their opponents at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the team, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools the previous year came in the second round, an agonising 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a domestic championship to their name and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Tough Start
The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.
In the existing pool system, a lot is made about securing home wins, 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 early in the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
In doing so, they gave their prospects of qualification a major lift and, by contrast, dealt a significant setback to Sale.
With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance 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 joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season not a single one was able to progress out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength fielded.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved talking about their aspirations, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Produce a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
