The Interesting Match Facts Ahead Of Leinster’s Champions Cup Semi-Final With Clermont

Not long to go now…

Clermont and Leinster lock horns this weekend in the second of two Champions Cup semi-finals. The Irish province face a daunting trip to Lyon in France, with Clermont clear favourites in their home country.

Leinster however are in serious form at the moment and will most definitely fancy themselves against a side notorious for choking at the final hurdles. Heading into the all-important clash, we’ve got some really interesting match facts, courtesy of Opta and the EPCR, that make for some interesting reading.

• This will be Leinster’s ninth appearance in the semi-finals. Only Munster (12, including this season) and Toulouse (10) have reached the last four more often.

• This season’s No 1 seeds from the pool stage, ASM Clermont Auvergne, are through to the semi-finals for the fifth time with their previous four games all coming since the beginning of 2011/12 (W2, L2).

• Sunday will be Leinster’s 150th European Cup match as they become the third club after Toulouse and Munster to reach the milestone. The three-time champions have won 97, drawn five and lost 47 of their previous 149 games.

• This is the ninth meeting between the sides in Europe, and no club has faced Clermont more often than Leinster in the competition. Only Leicester Tigers (11) have played against the Irish province more often than the TOP 14 outfit.

• Clermont have won their last two matches against Leinster, this after losing five of the first six meetings. However, Leinster have won both knockout clashes between the two – 2010 quarter-final at the RDS and 2012 semi-final in Bordeaux.

• Leinster are unbeaten in their last five Champions Cup games (W4, D1); the last time they went on a longer such run was their record breaking 17 game unbeaten streak from 2010 to 2012 (W16, D1), during which they lifted the trophy twice.

• Leinster (37) and Clermont (34.3) have averaged more points per game in the competition this season than any other side.

• Leinster are the only side with a 100% scrum success rate on their own ball.

• Leinster captain, Isa Nacewa, has scored seven tries to date this season, at least two more than any other player, while Clermont’s Camille Lopez has made the most try assists with seven.

• Sébastien Vahaamahina (80/88) has made more tackles than any other player in the competition this season, while teammate Rémi Lamerat has made the most of any back (64/75).