The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup continue this weekend and we’ve compiled some key notes for you on all match-ups involving our sides ahead of a huge weekend of action.
INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
Castres Olympique v Munster Rugby
Round 2, 13/12/2024, 21:00
Venue: Stade Pierre-Fabre
Castres Olympique
– Castres retained eight of their 39 kicks in play in Round 1 – the second-most kicks retained by any team.
– Castres won 100% of their scrums, over 90% of their lineouts, and stole three opposition lineouts last weekend.
– Castres’ gainline success rate was the second-lowest in Round 1 (34.2%). Their tackle success rate was also among the bottom five teams (69.9%).
Munster Rugby
– Munster conceded just six penalties last weekend – the joint-fewest in the opening round and five fewer than their opposition.
– Munster made the second-most carries in Round 1, a total of 157. They scored five tries for the first time since September.
– Munster were one of three teams last weekend who didn’t lose a single scrum or lineout.

Vodacom Bulls v Northampton Saints
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 15:00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Vodacom Bulls
– Cameron Hanekom beat more defenders than any other player in Round 1, a total of ten. He also won two turnovers.
– The Vodacom Bulls averaged a round-high 4.3 phases per possession last weekend and beat 40 defenders (second). However, they scored the second-fewest points per red zone entry (0.5).
– The Vodacom Bulls scored just one try in Round 1. This was the first time that they haven’t scored more than one try in a match since last season’s BKT URC Final.
Northampton Saints
– In his second appearance for Northampton Saints this season, Alex Mitchell assisted three tries (second).
– Saints beat 46 defenders in Round 1 – more than any other team in a Champions Cup match since 2022.
– Saints made a round-high 41 kicks in play last weekend, nine of which were retained. Hooker Curtis Langdon made three kicks in play – all of which were retained.

Ulster Rugby v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Round 2, , 14/12/2024, 15:15
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Ulster Rugby
– Ulster crossed the gainline with 49.5% of their carries in Round 1 (fifth), but made the third-fewest carry metres (232).
– Ulster made seven entries to the opposition 22 (22nd) but conceded 21 (24th).
– 50% of Ulster’s initial breaks were converted into tries in the same phase – the jointsecond highest strike rate of the opening weekend.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles
– Matthieu Jalibert scored 12 points – missing none from the tee – assisted two tries, and made 568 kick in play metres in Round 1.
– Bordeaux made the joint-most tackles last weekend (205) – at a success rate of 82% – and won the most turnovers outright (14).
– Bordeaux kicked 59.6% of their possession in Round 1, but averaged the most passes per ruck (2.8).

Leicester Tigers v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 17:30
Venue: Welford Road
Leicester Tigers
– Freddie Steward made 292 carry metres in Round 1 – more than any other player has made in an EPCR match in the last five seasons.
– Izaia Perese made more post-contact metres than any other player last weekend (43). He made two clean breaks, beat four defenders, and scored a try
– Tigers topped carries (176), dominant carries (42), and post-contact metres (275) in Round 1. However, they scored an average of just two points per 22 entry.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
– The Sharks made more clean breaks than any other team in Round 1, a total of 18. They also beat 33 defenders (third).
– The Sharks made an average of 13.3 metres per possession in Round 1 – more than any other team. They made an average of 2.2 passes per ruck (third).
– 61.1% of the Sharks’ kicks in play were contestable last weekend – more than any other team.

Leinster Rugby v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 17:30
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Leinster Rugby
– In his first appearance for Leinster, Jordie Barrett played 39 minutes, scored a try, and assisted another.
– Sam Prendergast scored 20 points (second) – including his two tries – and was flawless off the tee in Round 1.
– 62.3% of Leinster’s touches were passes in Round 1 – a higher proportion than any other team.
ASM Clermont Auvergne
– Clermont made more maul metres than any other team in Round 1 (51) and scored two maul tries.
– Clermont averaged the third-most metres per carry last weekend (4.1). Mathys Belaubre made a total of 45 metres – more than any other Clermont player.
– Clermont scored an average of 3.5 points per 22 entry in Round 1 (fifth); they scored a try during every other red zone visit.

Harlequins v DHL Stormers
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 20:00
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Harlequins
– Harlequins won 100% of their scrums and over 95% of their lineouts last weekend. Both of their tries originated from set pieces. • Quins made 19 entries to the opposition 22 in Round 1 (second) but scored an average of just 0.6 points per entry (22nd).
– Quins made the fewest post-contact metres in the opening round: a total off just 51.
DHL Stormers
– The DHL Stormers won all of their scrums last weekend and three scrum penalties. They also scored a maul try.
– Manie Libbok made more carries than any other Stormers player in Round 1 (18), for a total of 77 metres.
– The DHL Stormers conceded six fewer penalties than their opposition last weekend (eight) and made the second-most metres from penalty kicks (369).

Benetton Rugby v Bath Rugby
Round 2, 15/12/2024, 14:00
Venue: Stadio Monigo
Benetton Rugby
– Benetton were the only team not to score a point in Round 1. They hadn’t been nilled in their 34 previous matches in all competitions.
– 7.1% of Benetton’s tackles were dominant in the opening round (fourth). Sebastian Negri made two dominant tackles – more than any other Benetton player.
– Benetton kicked just 23.7% of their possession – the second-lowest rate in Round 1.
Bath Rugby
– Bath were the only team in Round 1 who didn’t make an offload. They also made just one clean break – the joint-fewest.
– Bath made a total of 1,075 kick in play metres last weekend (third) and retained eight kicks (joint-second).
– Bath were the only team who averaged fewer than a pass a ruck in Round 1. Over 10% of their carries were pick and gos.

RC Toulon v Glasgow Warriors
Round 2, 15/12/2024, 16:15
Venue: Stade Felix Mayol
RC Toulon
– Baptiste Serin made more kicks in play (19) – three of which were retained – and kick in play metres (600) than any other player in Round 1.
– Toulon made the joint-most offloads in Round 1, a total of 15. Gabin Villiere made the most in the squad (three).
– Toulon won 11 turnovers in the opening round (joint-third); Facundo Isa and David Ribbans won two apiece.
Glasgow Warriors
– George Horne scored more points than any other player in Round 1, a total of 21. This included 15 points from the only hattrick of the weekend.
– 55.6% of the Warriors’ initial breaks were converted into tries in the same phase in Round 1 – the highest rate in the opening round.
–The Warriors had the best tackle success rate in Round 1 (87.9%) and won the secondmost turnovers (13).

ECPR CHALLENGE CUP
Edinburgh Rugby v Aviron Bayonnais
Round 2, 13/12/2024, 20:00
Venue: Hive Stadium
Edinburgh Rugby
– Edinburgh retained six kicks (1st) in Round 1. They made seven contestable kicks in total (3rd), averaging just 23.4 metres per kick (second-fewest).
– Among the Edinburgh squad in Round 1, Wes Goosen made the most carries (13), carry metres (45) and line breaks (four). He scored their only try.
– Edinburgh conceded the third-most penalties (12) and turnovers (18) in Round 1; 32% of their possessions ended with a turnover (16th).
Aviron Bayonnais
– Lucas Martin made the most carries (22) and post-contact metres (31) in Round 1. He and teammate Manu Tuilagi made the joint-most dominant carries (seven).
– Nadir Megdoud made 136 metres (2nd), beat 21 defenders (1st), and made two clean breaks at the weekend. No player has beaten more defenders in a European game for the last four seasons.
– Aviron Bayonnais had the best tackle success rate (85.7%) in Round 1. They missed just seven tackles (1st), made nine negative tackles (1st), and conceded just one clean break (1st).

Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Ospreys
Round 2, , 14/12/2024, 14:00
Venue: GGL Stadium R
Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Montpellier Herault Rugby had the second-highest tackle success rate (85.4%) in Round 1. They conceded two line breaks (2nd) and made just 31 negative tackles (3rd).
57.1% of Montpellier’s possessions ended with a kick (3rd). They made 1130 kick metres (3rd) but made four kick errors. • Nicolas Martins made 24 tackles (2nd) and missed none. He also won the joint-most turnovers (two) and made the most carries into contact (eight) for Montpellier.
Ospreys
Ospreys made 14 22m entries (1st) in Round 1 and conceded just five (2nd). They averaged 59% territory (4th).
Ospreys made 134 carries (3rd) in Round 1. They made 427 carry metres (4th) and 10.4 metres per possession (4th).
Among the Ospreys squad in Round 1, Jac Morgan made the second-most carries (13), most dominant carries (three), and beat the most defenders (four). He also won the most turnovers (three).

Zebre Parma v Lyon O.U.
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 14:00
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Zebre Parma
– Zebre Parma made 108 carries into contact (2nd) in Round 1 – 26 were dominant (3rd). They made more post contact metres (149) and post-contact metres per carry (1.2) than any other team.
– Zebre had the best ruck retention rate (98.8%) in Round 1, having lost just one. However, just 12% of their rucks were in the opposition 22m (16th).
– Zebre missed the second-most tackles (41) and conceded the most clean breaks (ten) in Round 1; 37.7% of their tackles were negative (18th).
Lyon O.U.
– Davit Niniashvili made more offloads than any other player at the weekend, a total of five.
– Among the hookers with 100% lineout throw success in Round 1, Yanis Charcosset threw the most – a total of 12.
– Lyon missed 12 tackles (2nd), won two tackle turnovers (3rd), and allowed just three offloads (1st) in Round 1. Their tackle success rate was 85.3% (3rd).

Emirates Lions v Section Paloise
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 17:15
Venue: Emirates Airline Park
Emirates Lions
– Erich Cronje beat the most defenders (four) and made one line break for the Emirates Lions in Round 1. Two of his three carries into contact were dominant and he scored a try.
– The Emirates Lions averaged the third-fewest metres per kick (24.5) in Round 1. They made seven contestable kicks (3rd) but four kick errors.
– The Emirates Lions contested 50% of their restarts (2nd) and retained 33% (3rd).
Section Paloise
– Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Clément Mondinat, and Eliott Roudil all made over 100 carry metres at the weekend, placing each of them among the top performing four players.
– Thomas Souverbie made the joint-most kicks in play (15) in Round 1: six were contestable (1st) and three were retained (2nd).
– Pau made 650 carry metres (1st) in Round 1; they averaged the most metres per carry (5.4) and second-most metres per possession (12.3).

Cardiff Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs
Round 2, 14/12/2024, 20:00
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Rugby
– Cardiff scored 3.35 points per 22m entry (2nd) in Round 1. However, they conceded the second-most 22m entries (13) and third-most points per entry (2.85).
– Among the Cardiff squad, Josh Adams made 65 metres (2nd), assisted a break and a try, and scored one. • Cardiff had the third-quickest ruck speed (3.6s) in Round 1; they lost just two rucks.
Toyota Cheetahs
– Toyota Cheetahs won the most turnovers (16) in Round 1. Jeandre Rudolph won the most of all the players (four); he also made the joint-most dominant carries (seven) and scored a try.
– Michael Annies beat 16 defenders (2nd) in Round 1 – an average of 1.8 per carry (2nd). Only one player has beaten more defenders in a European match for the last four seasons.
– The Cheetahs made the second-fewest tackles (79), but 11.1% of which were dominant (1st) – they won four tackle turnovers (1st).

Scarlets v Black Lion
Round 2, 15/12/2024, 13:00
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Scarlets
– Jac Price and Alex Craig made more tackles than any other players in Round 1: 26 and 24 respectively.
– Scarlets stole three lineouts (2nd) in Round 1 – all via Vaea Fifita (1st).
– Scarlets conceded the second-fewest turnovers (nine) but the most penalties (18) in Round 1.
Black Lion
– Luka Matvaka scored more points than any other player at the weekend, a total of 17; he was flawless off the tee.
– Black Lion made 168 tackles (2nd) in Round 1 – 16 were dominant (1st). Bachuki Tchumbadze made three (2nd).
– Among the Black Lion squad, Luka Ivanishvili made the carry metres (42), dominant carries (five), and post-contact metres (25).

USAP v Connacht Rugby
Round 2, 15/12/2024, 14:00
Venue: Stade Aime Giral
USAP
– Of Antoine Aucagne’s ten kicks in play in Round 1 six were contestable (1st) and four were retained (1st).
– Perpignan had the joint-best gainline success rate (50%) in Round 1. They averaged the second-most metres per carry (4.8) – 25% of which were dominant (2nd).
– Antoine Aucagne assisted three clean breaks (1st) and a try in Round 1. No player assisted more than one try, but Aucagne was the only player to assist one with a kick.
Connacht Rugby
– On debut for Connacht Rugby at the weekend, Chay Mullins scored the only hattrick of Round 1.
– Connacht won eight turnovers (3rd) in Round 1 – four were one on one strips (1st). They also won four lineout steals (1st).
– 28.7% of Connacht’s carries were dominant (1st). They had the joint-best gainline success rate (50%) in Round 1, and averaged the most metres per possession (13.1).

Newcastle Falcons v Dragons RFC
Round 2, 15/12/2024, 15:15
Venue: Kingston Park
Newcastle Falcons
– Newcastle Falcons made the joint second-most kicks (37) and the second-most kick metres (1157) in Round 1 – seven were contestable (3rd). 72.3% of their possessions ended with a kick (1st).
– Newcastle conceded just six penalties (2nd) and seven turnovers (1st) in Round 1. Only one of their turnovers was forced.
– 47.6% of Newcastle’s rucks were in the opposition 22m in Round 1. They had the second-best ruck retention rate (98.8%) yet the slowest average ruck speed (4.8s).
Dragons RFC
– Dragons RFC made the most kicks (46) and kick metres (1262) in Round 1, with Angus O’Brien making the most of all the players (15, 564). However, they made the joint-most kick errors (four).
– Dragons averaged the third-most territory (64%) in Round 1; 40.8% of their rucks were in the opposition 22m (3rd).
– Among the Dragons squad, Taine Basham made the most carries (17), dominant carries (four), and post-contact metres (20). He also beat the most defenders (six).
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