Now that the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.
French dominance has defined the competition in recent years, with the past five winners all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage featured a number of impressive wins from new contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Retain Their Crown
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition a year ago, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.
Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the feat this year. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of winning consecutive championships with a high-scoring triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side boasting talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls to zero after the break.
France international machines Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with that pair on the wings is a threat against any competition.
Impressive Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run
Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup was almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more prepared to add a second star.
The defending English Premiership champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – on the back of a shocking early departure last year.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They combine offensive flair – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, restraining their opponents at bay when they attempted a dramatic comeback.
With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves all over the roster, they must be viewed as credible threats for a continental title since 1998.
Bath's pivotal moment in the pools a year ago came in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and setting the pace the home league, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits throughout the draw, but their section appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.
The Scottish side were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious five points.
By achieving this, they provided their chances of progressing a positive start and, conversely, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.
With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for high-stakes drama.
And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Will Ioane Be the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
However in recent seasons it hasn't gone to plan, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after backing up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was believed that Kiwi international Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the semi.
This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are top of the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.
The reactions after the game were promising too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the players such as South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a SA franchise to have a long run in the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.
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 presently runner-up in the French league and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
