🔗 Share this article

Following the first round of the new season's Champions Cup wrapped up, we delve into the major talking points emerging from the weekend's action.

Top 14 superiority has defined the competition in recent seasons, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. But, the opening round featured several convincing performances from new contenders.

Bordeaux Seem Ready to Go Back-to-Back

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament the previous campaign, overpowering Toulouse in the semi-final and afterwards Northampton in the final.

Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, some have suggested about their ability to repeat the feat now. Yet, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of securing another trophy with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.

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

But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to seal a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the break.

France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with those two on the flanks has a chance against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Appear Equipped of Challenging for the Title

Bath's sole success in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been more prepared to secure another title.

The current English champions are leading the way in the league after six games and will be looking to translate that form into continental competition – particularly following a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's men looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the Celtic league.

They combine attacking verve – earning the try-scoring point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with tough tackling, keeping their opponents at a distance when they threatened a fightback.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and a deep squad all over the team, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a continental title since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the pools a year ago was in the next fixture, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.

After winning a league trophy to their name and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to place greater emphasis on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Give Sale a Tough Start

The tournament contains powerful sides throughout the draw, but the first group seems destined to be one of the tightest.

In the competition's present structure, a lot is emphasized regarding securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.

The Glasgow Warriors were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries at the start of the second period gave them a precious bonus-point win.

In doing so, they gave their prospects of qualification a positive start and, in turn, handed a significant setback to their opponents.

With Toulouse – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect many thrilling contests.

And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They produced one of their best European performances in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.

Could Ioane the Key Addition of the Leinster Puzzle?

If there's one team you would predict to be there or thereabouts at the later stages of the continental campaign, it would be European giants Leinster.

However in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites the previous campaign after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were surprised and experienced a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.

This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

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

Stormers Seem Ready to Step Up

Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the last eight, and the previous season none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several weakened teams selected.

Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on the opening night.

The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches expressing their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the round-one win.

The Stormers seem the best bet for a team from South Africa to have a long run in the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet formidable opponents respectively.

Northampton and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match

There were multiple possibilities for best fixture, and this one was a leading candidate.

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

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