After two rounds and 24 matches so far in the Heineken Cup, we paint the competition by numbers
By Declan Whooley
The reigning champions Leinster have not set the world alight but are two from two, as are group rivals Clermont.
Munster have had a mixed bag, Toulouse and Toulon are looking formidable, English champions Harlequins are looking to avenge their early exit last year while the Scottish and Welsh contingent are struggling badly.
Here are some numbers from the opening two rounds
0
The number of tries scored by Exeter and Edinburgh this far. Though their stories have been quite different. Exeter were unlucky not to lower Leinster’s colours in the opening game and went down after a late penalty, while they met a Clermont Auvergne side last time who were out on a mission.
For Edinburgh it is a little more grim. No wins, not tries, not even a single point on the scoreboard, Michael Bradley’s side have made the worst start ever by any team to the competition. Having conceded 78 points, it is hard to find any positives. An away fixture in France is up next up in what will surely be a damage limitation exercise.
295, 986
The total attendance from the opening 24 fixtures in the competition. With an average crowd of 12,000 so far, the competition is in a healthy state of affairs. The average attendance for Premier League games is just three times this figure, so all the talk of the competition coming to a close may be a little bit of hyperbole.
7
The number of games Ulster have won this season to remain the only undefeated professional side in Europe. After the tragedy that occurred a few weeks ago, events off the pitch have not affected the team on it.
33
Vincent Clerc’s touchdown against Treviso stretches his record try-scoring record in the competition, pushing him two ahead of his closest challenger Brian O’Driscoll.
Sure we love to hate him after breaking Irish hearts in the past, but the man is a clinical finisher.
100
The King Baudoin Stadium in Brussels became the 100th venue in the competitions history when Saracens took on Racing Metro in Belgium at the weekend, while Belgium also became the 10th country to host a Heineken Cup fixture.
For any anoraks out there, the first fixture took place at the Stadionul de Rugby Farul in Romania, where the local team lost by 44 points to Toulouse. Start as you mean to continue.
50
Three players joined the 50 appearance club after the second round of games. Dougie Hall of Glasgow, the mercurial Frederic Michalak of Toulon as well as Declan Kidney’s favourite son Paddy Wallace.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
