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Racing have scored 7 tries from kick returns, Exeter have scored 7 following a tap penalty...

By Online Editors

13 Oct 2020

(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

The countdown is on towards Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated Champions Cup showpiece featuring Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 at Bristol. Here are ten match facts ahead of the Anglo-French decider which has a 4.45pm kick-off at Ashton Gate:

1. This will be the first Heineken Champions Cup final involving a first European meeting between the two finalists since 2013 when Toulon defeated Clermont.

2. Either Exeter or Racing will become the twelfth different club to lift the Heineken Champions Cup. The Chiefs have reached the final for the first time in their history, while Racing will be appearing in the showpiece match for the third time having lost to Saracens in 2016 and Leinster in 2018.

Racing full-back Simon Zebo on his Ireland situation, the Champions Cup final and his infamous 2013 Lions fine

3. This will be the eighth Anglo-French Heineken Champions Cup final with Gallagher Premiership clubs currently ahead by five wins to two.

4. Exeter are yet to lose in the Champions Cup this season (W7, D1), their longest unbeaten run in European competition. Should they defeat Racing it would be the fifth season in a row that the eventual champions have gone through the tournament unbeaten.

'I had it in my head I wanted to coach because I was only 23 and thought I was going to be finishing up with injury'
– Ex-Munster scrum-half @mikeprendergas3 on the adversity that ignited his @ChampionsCup final journey with @racing92
👨‍💻@heagneyl https://t.co/B8pSBnu0LP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2020

5. Racing have scored eleven tries in the 20 minutes leading up to half-time this season, more than any other side, while Exeter have scored the most in the 20-minute period directly after the break (twelve).

6. Racing have scored seven tries from kick returns, more than any other side, while the Chiefs have scored seven tries following a tap penalty – no other club has scored more than two in that manner this season.

7. Exeter have missed just three of their 40 place kicks and have the best goalkicking success rate as a result (93 per cent). Fly-half Joe Simmonds has the best success rate of any player to attempt more than five kicks at goal (94 per cent – 34/36).

8. Exeter have the top try scorer in the Heineken Champions Cup this season with No8 Sam Simmonds crossing seven times, while Racing’s Finn Russell leads the way for try assists (seven).

9. Virimi Vakatawa (Racing) has beaten 48 defenders, 19 more than any other player and Jack Nowell (Exeter) is one of three players tied second on 29 defenders beaten (level with Leinster’s Jordan Larmour and Lewis Ludlam of Northampton).

10. Exeter’s Dave Ewers has made 118 tackles, five more than teammate Jonny Gray who has made the second-most overall (113, 81 for Glasgow, 32 for Exeter).

Best of frenemies next Saturday 👀 https://t.co/3R0zMI5xJN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2020

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Comments on RugbyPass

SS 6 minutes ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

60 Go to comments

JW 19 minutes ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

146 Go to comments

SS 21 minutes ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

60 Go to comments

JW 25 minutes ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.

Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

146 Go to comments

Bruiser 38 minutes ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

13 Go to comments

NH 1 hour ago

Battle of the breakdown to determine Wallabies’ grand slam future

Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

3 Go to comments

SS 1 hour ago

Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

Yes, probably why he still annoys me even now

4 Go to comments

GS 1 hour ago

Why Finn Russell 'edges' Marcus Smith in race for the Lions 10 shirt

"Edges" it? Really? Marcus Smith is a great stand off, but he isn't fit to lace Russell's boots. That is no slur on Smith, but in every aspect of the game, Russell is better. Put it this way, if Russell was English they would have beaten the All Blacks and Australia comfortably.

2 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

Graham, if you cant celebrate the wins whats the point of playing the game? I think most would have happily taken 3 from 4 on this tour and winning would be icing but losing just 1 test is still Cake. Its been a season of lost opportunity no matter the result. 3 tests and no real gains from a experience for the newbies perspective. I do get that winning is everything but a few more squad members getting bigger minutes would have been great. Either way, providing the B side doesnt lose to Italy it will be a OK year.

5 Go to comments

BH 1 hour ago

Four changes for France as Galthie names team to host All Blacks

No mention of Matthieu Jalibert refusing to play against New Zealand because he would've been on the reserves list. What a sooky cry baby. That is utterly embarrassing and shows he has a poor, selfish attitude.

4 Go to comments

BH 1 hour ago

Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

Poor headline to be honest. Makes it look like Contemponi is disrespecting New Zealand, which he clearly is not. He does the opposite.

3 Go to comments

Otagoman II 1 hour ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

In regards to the obstruction empahsis on kicking, the receiving team has to clear a path to where the ball is going that one of their team is going to take. If the kicking team member runs into another player that will not mean they gain a penalty unless a direct path to the receiver is blocked.

I suspect the change was brought about to make this aspect of the game safer as chasers will not be bumped into creating a dangerous fall for the player leaping. A good example of this was the red card for a French player against the ABs a few years back. He clattered into B Barrett taking his legs from out under him and landing on his neck/head. Upon review for the citing committee they agreed that ALB had checked the French player causing him to go off course and take Barrett out. No suspension resulted and the red card rescinded. The metric to judge the worth of this change is to see if dangerous falls lessen or not.

Thanks for the article.

8 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

DM should start and have the game decided by the starting 15. I can just see everyone blaming Dmac and Ratima because they come on with 15 to go and cant make up the 2 try deficit they face. Dmac needs to leave. Make the coin whilst he is in his prime.

8 Go to comments

SM 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔

8 Go to comments

Hellhound 2 hours ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

The English biggest problem is that whole board. They need to change it, because all they've shown is how incapable they are of running a business which ultimately it is.

The players they choose for the team isn't even the best players in England. There is better players out there just as you suggested and I've said in one of my responses.

This was a well written no nonsense article. An eye opener. Let's hope they read your articles. There is a lot they can learn from someone like you. Just don't dare leave my Bulls as a coach. 2 URC Finals and no cigar. You'd better give those boys gas when they screw up. We want that URC title this year👍

8 Go to comments

LRB 2 hours ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Love the username, fu¢king brilliant.! 😁

13 Go to comments

OJohn 2 hours ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

The Tahs are like that. I wouldn't describe Rennie as honorable. He betrayed his own country after all.

146 Go to comments

GL 3 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

Hope BB can survive the French defense and that Abs don't many tricky, corner kicks which BB will not make