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10 stats to arm yourself with ahead of Leinster Scarlets this weekend
By Online Editors
Leinster play Scarlets in the semi-final of the European Champions Cup this weekend in Dublin in a fascinating repeat of last year's Pro14 semi-final.
The Scarlets hammered Leinster that day, but Leinster have - statistically at least - the whip hand in Europe.
10 stats you stats you really should know
The clubs have met seven times previously in the European Cup with Leinster winning five of those matches (L2), including the last four in a row.
This will be Leinster's 10th semi-final appearance, only Munster (13, including 2017/8) have featured in more (Toulouse also on 10).
Just one of Leinster’s previous nine semi-finals have been against Welsh opposition, that was back in the first edition of the Champions Cup in 1995/96 when they were beaten by Cardiff.
Scarlets have reached this stage of the Champions Cup for the first time since 2006/07 and for the fourth time overall; they have yet to progress to the final, however.
Leinster are the only side with a 100% winning record in this season's Champions Cup and could become just the second club after Saracens in 2015/16 to win every match in a campaign. Leinster did go unbeaten during their 2011/12 triumph (W8, D1).
No side has averaged more tries per game than Leinster this season (3.6, same as Saracens), whilst the province has also conceded the fewest penalties per match (7.6).
The Scarlets have won 94% of their own lineouts in this campaign, the best rate of any side.
Luke McGrath (1 try, 6 assists) and Gareth Davies (4 tries, 3 assists) have both been directly involved in seven tries this season, no player has had a hand in more (also Dan Evans).
Ken Owens (105) is one of just two players to make 100+ tackles this season (Tom Dunn, 119).
Tadhg Beirne has won five more turnovers (16) than any other player this season, nine of those have been jackals.
Saturday, 21 April
Kick-off: 15:30, Aviva Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Shaun Gallagher (Eng)
Watch
22 year old Aidan Ross has been ruled out for the season after suffering a serious ankle injury against the Hurricanes in Wellington last Friday night when his ankle was crushed by teammate Angus Ta'avao.
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Latest Comments
I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
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