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Now that the opening salvo of the 2025-26 Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the primary lessons highlighted by the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the first weekend featured multiple convincing performances from new contenders.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were imperious in the competition last season, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the grand finale.

Lying sixth in the domestic standings, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the title now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a high-scoring win on the road in South Africa.

Given a difficult tie at Loftus Versfeld against a formidable Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the interval.

Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second half, roaring back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the halftime.

French try-scoring phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title

Bath's only triumph in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have perhaps not been more strongly positioned to secure another title.

The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's team looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.

They blend offensive flair – securing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a late rally.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad across the squad, they are surely serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools last season came in the following week, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a changed side.

After winning a league trophy under their belt and top the home league, Van Graan may feel able to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Give Sale a Significant Setback

The tournament contains powerful sides in every pool, but their section appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.

The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries early in the second half gave them a precious maximum haul.

By achieving this, they gave their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.

With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 conquerors of the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for Scottish rugby.

Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?

If there's one team you would expect to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the season in Europe, it would be European giants Leinster.

Yet in recent seasons it has ended in disappointment, as they have promised much but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after building on a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the last eight.

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

This season they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a key pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.

Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge

Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the quarter-finals, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.

Could this be the season that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.

The words from players and coaches were positive too, with the squad and staff talking about their ambition, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.

The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the tournament, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did face the French powerhouses respectively.

The English and French Sides Serve Up a Memorable Match

There were a few contenders for best fixture, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.

Pau have been experiencing a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by Argentine internationals Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.

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