🔗 Share this article

Following the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the fixtures.

Top 14 superiority has ruled the roost in the past few campaigns, with the past five winners all representing France's top flight. However, the opening round included a number of impressive wins from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Appear Primed to Go Back-to-Back

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the accomplishment this season. However, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable of securing back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.

Faced with a tough assignment at Loftus Versfeld against a strong Bulls side featuring talents like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they were behind 33-22 at the interval.

Yet, true to their champion status, they displayed their class in the final 40 minutes, roaring back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the halftime.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings stands a good chance against any competition.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in Europe dates back almost 30 years ago. In the years since, they have arguably not been better equipped to win it again.

The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to transfer that success into continental competition – on the back of a unexpected elimination the previous season.

Johann van Graan's side looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.

They marry creative spark – securing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, restraining their guests at a distance when they attempted a fightback.

With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad all over the roster, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.

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

Now with a Premiership title to their name and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow

The tournament contains strong teams everywhere you look, but Pool One appears poised to be one of the most competitive.

In the competition's present structure, 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 turn out to be vital.

The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries early in the second period gave them a precious bonus-point win.

With this result, they provided their hopes of advancing a major lift and, conversely, dealt a damaging defeat to their opponents.

With the French giants – dominant 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, sharing the group, we should be in for plenty of fireworks.

And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their top continental showings in years to shock three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?

If there's one team you would fancy to be there or thereabouts at the sharp end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.

However in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but delivered little. 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 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the missing ingredient to secure the title, but they were ambushed and endured a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the last four.

This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a scoring pass on his debut in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.

Will Ioane prove to return the cup 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 deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the group stage, with plenty of weakened teams fielded.

Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were positive too, with the squad and staff expressing their goals, and the caliber of Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.

The Stormers look the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in their first games but did face Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.

Saints and Pau Serve Up a Memorable Match

There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.

Pau have been enjoying a brilliant season, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

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