With the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the games.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in recent years, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. But, the initial stage included several statement victories from potential rivals.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the grand finale.
Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux sent a message that they are well-positioned of winning consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.
However, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second half, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the wings is a threat against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Appear Equipped of A Deep Run
Bath's lone victory in Europe came almost three decades ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – particularly following a unexpected elimination last year.
Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their guests at a distance when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and a deep squad across the roster, they have to be considered credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the group stage last season was in the second round, an heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a league trophy under their belt and top domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
You will find strong teams throughout the draw, but the first group looks set to be one of the tightest.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the first day might just be pivotal.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.
By achieving this, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, by contrast, handed a damaging defeat to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.
And what of Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would predict to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
But in recent campaigns it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This year they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with several squads not at full strength selected.
Could this be the season that is different? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved talking about their goals, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the competition, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
Northampton and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were a few contenders for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a brilliant season, led by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
