Following the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. But, the first weekend featured multiple convincing performances from new rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of achieving consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld 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 half-time.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the break.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with those two on the edges has a chance against whoever they face.
Formidable Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.
The current English champions are leading the way domestically after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They marry offensive flair – sealing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves throughout the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage last season was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a league trophy in their history and leading domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
There are powerful sides everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
In doing so, they handed their prospects of qualification a positive start and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Quest?
If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were surprised and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and last year no South African side succeeded in getting out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their goals, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the competition, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Produce a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for best fixture, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
