Following the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons emerging from the fixtures.
Gallic supremacy has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all hailing from France's elite division. But, the initial stage included multiple statement victories from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown
Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their capacity to retain the title this season. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Given a difficult tie at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, demonstrating their pedigree, they showed their quality in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the break.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any team with those two on the flanks stands a good chance against whoever they face.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in Europe was almost a generation ago. In the years since, they have perhaps not 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 aiming to carry that momentum into continental competition – particularly following a unexpected elimination the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine attacking verve – securing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and strength in depth throughout the squad, they are surely genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase last season occurred in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.
Having secured a domestic championship in their history and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains strong teams throughout the draw, but Pool One seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second period gave them a precious five points.
In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, dealt a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we can expect high-stakes drama.
And as for Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in years to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?
Should you pick one side you would expect to be in the mix at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites last season after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were surprised and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.
Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and the previous season no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were encouraging too, with individuals involved expressing their goals, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.
The Stormers look the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did face formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are currently in second place in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's