Anglo-Irish rivalry at its best: Leicester vs Leinster

A great Anglo-Irish clash is set for Welford Road as the Premiership log-leaders lock horns with the number one side in the URC. 

Leinster were impressive in their Round of 16 2nd Leg as they put fellow Irish outfit Connacht down heavily, 56-20: 

Leicester threw their weight around at Welford Road, managing a 10-point victory over Clermont: 

From the coaches: 

Steve Borthwick (Leicester):  

“I think everybody knows what a great team Leinster are and the incredible record they have in Europe. It is an organisation with incredible resources and depth.” 

Stuart Lancaster (Leinster): 

“Leicester are probably international quality in every position in my opinion. It’s not dissimilar from our team. They have got a lot of experienced players. It’s going to be one of the special European games for sure.” 

Key facts: 

• Leicester have won three of their last four knockout stage fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup after previously losing four in a row. They have not conceded 20+ points in any game during that period. 
• Leicester have won their last two fixtures against Irish opposition in the Heineken Champions Cup after previously losing four in a row. Two of their last three games against Irish sides have been decided by a single point. 
• Leinster have won five of their last six quarter-final fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup, including their most recent, which came away against Premiership opposition (34-22 v Exeter Chiefs last season). 
• Leinster have won their last seven away games in England in the Heineken Champions Cup, by an average margin of 23 points, after winning none of the previous four (D1 L3). They recorded their biggest away win in the competition during their last trip to England, 64-7 against Bath Rugby in January this year. 
• No side have attempted more kicks from open play in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup than Leicester (204). Consequently, they have also made more kicking meters than any other side in this season’s competition (6,884). 
• Of clubs remaining in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup, no side have scored more points in the last 20 minutes of games than Leinster (59) or Leicester (47). Additionally, only Racing 92 (3) have conceded fewer points in the final quarter of matches this season than Leicester (10). 
• No side have scored more tries originating from lineouts in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup than Leinster (18) or Leicester (13), with 68% of Leicester’s tries this season having come from a lineout, the highest ratio of any side in the competition. 
• Leicester’s Tommy Reffell is one of just three players to make 70+ tackles in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (76). Meanwhile, Leinster’s Ronan Kelleher is one of just four players to make 30+ tackles without missing in the competition this season (34/34). 
• Leinster’s James Lowe is the top try-scorer in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (8), while teammates Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne have made the joint most try assists this campaign.