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With the first round of the latest Champions Cup in the books, we delve into the major talking points stemming from the games.

French dominance has been the narrative in recent years, with the past five winners all hailing from France's elite division. However, the initial stage included several impressive wins from potential rivals.

Bordeaux Look Set to Go Back-to-Back

Current holders Bordeaux Begles were imperious in this tournament the previous campaign, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and then Northampton in the final.

Positioned sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat now. Yet, in the first round, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of achieving another trophy with a free-flowing win on the road in South Africa.

Given a challenging fixture at Loftus Versfeld against a powerful Bulls side featuring stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at half-time.

But, true to their champion status, they unleashed their power in the second half, storming back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the interval.

French try-scoring aces Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any team with such firepower on the flanks is a threat against whoever they face.

Impressive Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title

Bath's only triumph in the Champions Cup dates back almost 30 years ago. Throughout the ensuing period, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to add a second star.

The reigning domestic title-holders are setting the pace in the league after six games and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Champions Cup – especially after a shocking early departure last year.

Johann van Graan's men looked a extremely well-rounded and balanced unit in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are highly placed in the URC.

They marry attacking verve – earning the bonus point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their visitors at bay when they attempted a fightback.

With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and a deep squad across the squad, they must be viewed as genuine challengers for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.

Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year was in the following week, an agonising 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.

Now with a league trophy under their belt and setting the pace domestically again, Van Graan may feel able to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup this season.

Glasgow Deal Sale a Major Blow

You will find powerful sides everywhere you look, but Pool One looks set to be one of the tightest.

In the competition's present structure, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's win on the road at Sale on the first day might just prove crucial.

The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries early in the second half gave them a all-important five points.

In doing so, they gave their chances of progressing a major lift and, conversely, handed a damaging defeat to Sale.

With Toulouse – dominant 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, in the same section, we can expect plenty of fireworks.

And as for Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their finest displays in Europe in a long time to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for the Scottish game.

Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Puzzle?

If there's one team you would expect to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.

Yet in recent campaigns 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 overwhelming favourites 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 final piece to win the championship, but they were surprised and endured a stunning upset to Northampton Saints in the semi.

This year they are testing another New Zealand import, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 success against Harlequins.

Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?

Stormers Look 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 last year no South African side succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with plenty of rotated sides used.

Could this be the season that turns around? The Stormers are leading the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.

The post-match comments were encouraging too, with players and coaches talking about their ambition, and the caliber of stars Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the opening victory.

The Stormers seem the strongest candidate for a team from South Africa to go deep into the competition, yet do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who each suffered defeat in the opening round but did play the French powerhouses respectively.

Saints and Pau Produce 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 having a brilliant campaign, spearheaded by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

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