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Now that the first round of the 2025-26 Champions Cup in the books, we examine the major talking points stemming from the games.

Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. But, the initial stage included a number of statement victories from emerging challengers.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the semi-final and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.

Positioned sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their ability to repeat the feat now. However, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of winning back-to-back titles with a free-flowing triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.

Faced with a challenging fixture at a hostile venue against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.

Yet, as champions do, they unleashed their power in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls to zero after the interval.

France international aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.

Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have probably never been more strongly positioned to win it again.

The defending English Premiership champions are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a unexpected elimination last year.

Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 win over Munster, who are among the leaders in the URC.

They combine offensive flair – sealing the extra point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at a distance when they threatened a dramatic comeback.

With players including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves all over the roster, they are surely genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the group stage a year ago came in the next fixture, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a squad players.

After winning a domestic championship to their name and leading the home league, Van Graan could be inclined to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this year.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow

There are strong teams throughout the draw, but their section looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is emphasized regarding winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just turn out to be vital.

The Glasgow Warriors were two scores behind after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries during the beginning of the second half gave them a all-important bonus-point win.

With this result, they handed their chances of progressing a major lift and, in turn, dealt a damaging defeat to their opponents.

With the French giants – imperious 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who easily overcame Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.

And regarding Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They delivered one of their best European performances in a long time to shock former champions Toulon 33-20, on a fine weekend for the Scottish game.

Will Ioane Be the Key Addition of the Leinster Jigsaw?

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

Yet in the last few years it has not worked out, as they have promised much but not won the trophy. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked overwhelming favourites last season after backing up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was hoped that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the key player to secure the title, but they were caught out and experienced a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.

Now they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.

Could Ioane be the player to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?

Stormers Appear Ready to Step Up

Ever since the teams from South Africa became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and the previous season not a single one succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of squads not at full strength selected.

Is this the year that turns around? The Stormers are first in the URC and kicked off their continental journey with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.

The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with individuals involved talking about their aspirations, and the players such as stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse not involved for the first match.

The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did face the French powerhouses respectively.

Saints and Pau Produce a Memorable Match

There were a few contenders for match of the round, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was a leading candidate.

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

They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's