Crucial Insights following the European Cup's Opening Weekend
Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.
French dominance has ruled the roost in recent seasons, with the past five winners all representing France's Top 14. Yet, the opening round featured several impressive wins from new contenders.
Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.
Positioned sixth in the French league, some have suggested about their chances of defending the feat this year. However, in their opener, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of securing back-to-back titles with a points-laden win on the road in South Africa.
Faced with a tough assignment at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.
But, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls scoreless after the interval.
French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey were among the try-scorers. Any outfit with that pair on the wings stands a good chance against any opponent.
Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title
Bath's lone victory in the Champions Cup came almost three decades ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.
They combine attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their visitors at a distance when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the roster, they are surely serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage last season occurred in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
After winning a domestic championship to their name and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this year.
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 tightest.
In the existing pool system, a lot is emphasized regarding victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The Scottish side were two scores behind after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, handed a damaging defeat to their opponents.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see many thrilling contests.
And regarding Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.
Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?
When considering a contender you would expect to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has ended in disappointment, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign 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 missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were caught out and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Seem Equipped to Compete
Since the South African sides 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 managed to make it out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides used.
Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 away win at Bayonne on the opening night.
The words from players and coaches were positive too, with individuals involved expressing their aspirations, and the likes of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the tournament, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost this weekend but did play the French powerhouses respectively.
Saints and Pau Produce a Classic Encounter
There were multiple possibilities for match of the round, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been experiencing a superb campaign, guided by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
