Major Lessons after the Champions Cup's Opening Weekend

With the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we delve into the primary lessons emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's top flight. Yet, the opening round featured several impressive wins from emerging contenders.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Defend Their Title

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in Europe a year ago, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the showpiece.

Currently sitting sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their chances of defending the accomplishment this year. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a points-laden away victory in South Africa.

Given a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side including talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the break.

However, as champions do, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.

France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.

Powerful Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run

Bath's only triumph in this competition dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been better equipped to add a second star.

The current English champions are setting the pace at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's side looked a extremely well-rounded and composed outfit in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.

They blend creative spark – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their guests at arm's length when they attempted a dramatic comeback.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth throughout the squad, they have to be considered serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools the previous year was in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.

Now with a Premiership title under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start

There are powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most fiercely contested.

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 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a precious bonus-point win.

In doing so, they handed their hopes of advancing a significant early boost and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to their opponents.

With the red and blacks – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.

Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?

Should you pick one side 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 seasons it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but not won the trophy. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the last eight.

It was believed that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.

This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a key pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.

Is Ioane the man to secure European glory to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge

From the moment the SA franchises joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and last year none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams selected.

Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were positive too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.

The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the event, yet don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in their first games but did meet Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Thrilling Contest

There were a few contenders for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.

Pau have been experiencing a outstanding campaign, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.

They are presently in second place in the French league and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's