Now that the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the key revelations highlighted by the games.
Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the last five champions all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round included multiple convincing performances from new contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the feat now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.
But, as champions do, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with that pair on the edges has a chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in Europe came almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more prepared to add a second star.
The reigning domestic title-holders are top of the pile at home after six games and will be hoping to translate that form into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.
They marry creative spark – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their guests at bay when they looked like mounting a late rally.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad throughout the squad, they have to be considered credible threats for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the pools a year ago was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a squad players.
Now with a league trophy to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
There are quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the tightest.
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 Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a all-important bonus-point win.
By achieving this, they handed their hopes of advancing a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a damaging defeat to Sale.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Is Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would fancy to be challenging at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat a year ago after building on a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the last eight.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the pool phase, with often squads not at full strength used.
Will this be the campaign that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The words from players and coaches were encouraging too, with the squad and staff expressing their aspirations, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.
The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for best fixture, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been having a outstanding campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the French championship and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
