🔗 Share this article

With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.

Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's elite division. But, the first weekend featured several convincing performances from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the grand finale.

Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their chances of defending the title this year. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Given a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a powerful Bulls side including internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the break.

But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the halftime.

France international machines Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the edges is a threat against any competition.

Formidable Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title

Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost a generation ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.

The current English champions are top of the pile domestically after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – on the back of a shocking early departure the previous season.

Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and balanced unit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the United Rugby Championship.

They marry attacking verve – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at arm's length when they threatened a late rally.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad across the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.

Bath's key result in the group stage the previous year occurred in the following week, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a rotated team.

After winning a domestic championship to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup this year.

Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback

There are strong teams in every pool, but their section seems destined to be one of the tightest.

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 turn out to be vital.

The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.

In doing so, they handed their chances of progressing a positive start and, in turn, dealt a significant setback to their opponents.

With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.

And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in recent memory to shock heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for Scottish rugby.

Is Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Puzzle?

When considering a contender you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

Yet in the last few years it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to win the championship, but they were surprised and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the last four.

This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided 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 Look Ready to Step Up

Since the South African sides became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one was able to progress out of the group stage, with several weakened teams used.

Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.

The words from players and coaches were promising too, with players and coaches expressing their ambition, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the first match.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.

The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter

There were several candidates for best fixture, and that clash was a leading candidate.

Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.

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