Key Takeaways from the Champions Cup's First Round
Following the first round of the latest Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations stemming from the games.
Top 14 superiority has been the narrative in recent years, with the previous five victors all calling home France's top flight. Yet, the initial stage included multiple statement victories from emerging rivals.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in this tournament a year ago, dismantling Toulouse in the semi-final and then Northampton in the final.
Lying sixth in the Top 14, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the title this season. But, in their opener, Bordeaux sent a message that they are more than capable 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 powerful Bulls side including stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they went into the break down 33-22 at the interval.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the second half, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international aces Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with such firepower on the flanks has a chance against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Look Capable of Challenging for the Title
Bath's sole success in the Champions Cup came almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have probably never been better equipped to secure another title.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way in the league after six games and will be aiming to translate that form into continental competition – especially after a shocking early departure the previous season.
Johann van Graan's team looked a very complete and composed outfit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They marry attacking verve – sealing the try-scoring point within 20 minutes at the Rec – with resolute defending, keeping their guests at a distance when they threatened a dramatic comeback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer pulling the strings and quality reserves throughout the squad, they have to be considered genuine challengers for a first European trophy since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the pools last season came in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 defeat at Benetton with a rotated team.
After winning a league trophy to their name and top domestically again, Van Graan could be inclined to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup this season.
Glasgow Deal Sale a Significant Setback
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but the first group seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about winning your home games, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just turn out to be vital.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but responded with character, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a valuable maximum haul.
In doing so, they handed their prospects of qualification a significant early boost and, by contrast, inflicted a significant setback to Sale.
With the French giants – imperious 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 regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to surprise heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?
If there's one team you would fancy to be in the mix at the sharp end of the continental campaign, it would be multiple champions Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have shown great potential but fallen short. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the round of 16 with a 52-0 destruction over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that New Zealand full-back Jordie Barrett would be the final piece to win the championship, but they were ambushed and experienced a shock loss to Northampton Saints in the semi-final.
This season they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a scoring pass on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Will Ioane prove to secure European glory to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Appear Prepared to Challenge
From the moment the SA franchises became part of the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the last eight, and in the last campaign none of them managed to make it out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that changes? The Stormers are leading the URC and started their Champions Cup adventure with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the opening victory.
The Stormers appear the strongest candidate for a SA franchise to have a long run in the tournament, although write off the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play Toulouse and Bordeaux respectively.
Northampton and Pau Deliver a Thrilling Contest
There were multiple possibilities for game of the weekend, and the Northampton vs. Pau game was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a superb season, spearheaded by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.
They are currently second in the French league and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
