The amount of defenders beaten by Tuilagi so far in Europe and 17 others Champions Cup stats

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have released a bevy of statistics ahead of this weekend of Champions Cup rugby.

Round 3 of the tournament offers up some mouthwatering matches.

Racing 92 host Leicester Tigers at the Paris La Défense Arena, while Munster take on Top 14 champions Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in Limerick.

• Racing 92 have won four of their previous five tournament meetings with Leicester Tigers, including each of the last three.

• Racing 92 have won their last six home games in Europe’s top flight, their best ever such run in the tournament.

• Leicester have lost 13 of their last 14 away games against TOP 14 opposition (W1), their solitary victory coming against Montpellier in Round 4 of the 2013/14 season.

• Racing have won their last three home games against Gallagher Premiership opposition.

• Tigers won their Round 2 match against Scarlets, but have not won back-to-back matches in the tournament since 2015/16.

• Since the start of the 2016/17 season, Leicester have conceded an average of 29.4 points per game, scoring 16.7 in reply.

• Leicester have allowed their opponents to make just seven offloads in the two rounds to date, the lowest total of any side.

• Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi totalled 12 defenders beaten across the first two rounds, only England teammate Jack Nowell of the Exeter Chiefs beat more (15).

• Racing 92’s Finn Russell made six offloads in the opening two rounds, and only Ulster’s Will Addison managed more (8).

• This will be the 15th meeting between Munster Rugby and Castres Olympique and no other clubs have met as often in the tournament.

• Munster are unbeaten in their last seven clashes against Castres (W6, D1), including a 45-point victory in Round 6 last season which was their biggest winning margin against TOP 14 opposition.

• Castres come into Sunday’s game on the back of a win against Exeter Chiefs and will be aiming to win consecutive matches in Europe for the first time since winning three-in-a-row during the 2012/13 pool stage.

• Munster have won their last 10 home games in the competition, picking up a bonus point in each of their last three such pool stage matches.

• Castres have won just four of 24 previous fixtures against Irish opposition (D2, L18) with all four of those wins coming at home.

• Munster have conceded the fewest (20) and won the joint most turnovers so far this season (17).

• Munster have conceded more penalties (27) than any other side to date.

• Munster captain, Peter O’Mahony, is one of three players to steal three opposition lineouts in the opening two rounds.

• No forward has beaten more defenders this season than Castres’ Steve Mafi who has beaten 10 from just six carries.