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With the initial matches of the 2025-26 Champions Cup concluded, we explore the major talking points emerging from the fixtures.

French dominance has defined the competition in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all hailing from France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage included a number of impressive wins from potential rivals.

Bordeaux Look Set to Retain Their Crown

Reigning title-holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.

Currently sitting sixth in the Top 14, doubts have been raised about their capacity to retain the accomplishment this year. But, in the first round, Bordeaux served notice that they are well-positioned of securing consecutive championships with a high-scoring away victory in South Africa.

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

Yet, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the final 40 minutes, storming back to secure a 46-33 victory – keeping the Bulls scoreless after the break.

Les Bleus stars aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any outfit with that pair on the wings is a threat against any opponent.

Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance

Bath's sole success in this competition dates back almost three decades ago. In the years since, they have probably never been better equipped to add a second star.

The current English champions are setting the pace domestically after six games and will be hoping to carry that momentum into continental competition – on the back of a unexpected elimination in the last campaign.

Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are third in the URC.

They marry offensive flair – securing the bonus point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, holding their visitors at bay when they threatened a late rally.

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 continental title since 1998.

Bath's pivotal moment in the initial phase the previous year was in the second round, an narrow 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.

Having secured a domestic championship in their history and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Tough Start

There are strong teams throughout the draw, but their section seems destined to be one of the tightest.

In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's triumph at an opponent's ground at Sale on Friday evening might just be pivotal.

The Glasgow Warriors were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.

In doing so, they gave their hopes of advancing a positive start and, in turn, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.

With the French giants – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we are likely to see plenty of fireworks.

And what of Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh? They turned in one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for the Scottish game.

Will Ioane Be the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Jigsaw?

If there's one team you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the season in Europe, it would be multiple champions Leinster.

However in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites the previous campaign after backing up a 62-0 thrashing of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.

It was believed that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to secure the title, but they were caught out and suffered a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi.

Now they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who registered a try assist 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 Look Ready to Step Up

Ever since the teams from South Africa entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the deepest run achieved is the last eight, and last year no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength fielded.

Will this be the campaign that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and began their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.

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

The Stormers look the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the competition, although don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.

The English and French Sides Deliver a Thrilling Contest

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

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

They are currently in second place in the French championship and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's