Following the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons emerging from the games.
Gallic supremacy has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all representing France's elite division. Yet, the opening round included a number of statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the title this season. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of winning back-to-back titles with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Faced with a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a formidable Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any side with that pair on the edges stands a good chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Going the Distance
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup was almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to win it again.
The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – securing the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at bay when they attempted a late rally.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the squad, they must be viewed as credible threats for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year was in the second round, an agonising 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a changed side.
Having secured a domestic championship to their name and leading domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains strong teams in every pool, but the first group seems destined 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 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious maximum haul.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, conversely, handed a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.
Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the season in Europe, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after following up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to take them over the line, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches talking about their aspirations, and the likes of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the event, yet write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and that clash was among the best.
Pau have been having a brilliant season, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
