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Following the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points stemming from the weekend's action.

French dominance has been the narrative in recent years, with the last five champions all hailing from France's elite division. However, the opening round featured a number of impressive wins from potential contenders.

Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the last four and afterwards Northampton in the showpiece.

Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the title this year. But, in their opener, Bordeaux served notice that they are fully equipped of achieving consecutive championships with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Handed a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at half-time.

Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second period, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls scoreless after the break.

France international phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the flanks has a chance against any opponent.

Formidable Bath Seem Poised of A Deep Run

Bath's sole success in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.

The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – particularly following a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.

Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the Celtic league.

They marry attacking verve – sealing the extra point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, keeping their opponents at bay when they attempted a fightback.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the team, they have to be considered serious contenders for a first European trophy since 1998.

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

Now with a domestic championship to their name and leading domestically again, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Hand Sale a Major Blow

You will find quality outfits everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most fiercely contested.

In the competition's present structure, a lot is made about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the first day 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 half gave them a valuable five points.

With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, conversely, inflicted a hefty blow to the Sharks.

With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, sharing the group, we can expect high-stakes drama.

And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They produced one of their top continental showings in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.

Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?

Should you pick one side you would fancy to be challenging at the business end of the continental campaign, it would be four-time winners Leinster.

But in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Runners-up three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were ambushed and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.

Now 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 victory against Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to bring the trophy back to Ireland for the first time since 2018?

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

Ever since the teams from South Africa joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and in the last campaign not a single one managed to make it out of the group stage, with several 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 Friday.

The reactions after the game were promising too, with individuals involved talking about their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the opening victory.

The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a South African side to go deep into the tournament, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in their first games but did play formidable opponents respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Classic Encounter

There were a few contenders for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.

Pau have been having a outstanding season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

They are presently in second place in the Top 14 and the stadium was buzzing at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's