Champions Cup Stats & Facts: Leinster Rugby Vs Ulster Rugby

Four-time European champions Leinster Rugby welcome Ulster Rugby to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening and we look at 10 Stats & Facts ahead of the clash.

1. It will be just the second time the two provinces will have met in Europe’s elite club competition, having played in the 2012 final at Twickenham together, with Leinster triumphing 42-14.

2. On the Leinster bench, Mick Kearney is in line to play his 50th game for the province for what might also be his first game in the Champions Cup this season.

3. Ulster have come up against Irish opposition twice in the tournament. The defeat to Leinster in the 2012 decider, as well also a famous away quarter-final win against Munster at Thomond Park in the same season. 

4. Billy Burns provided five try assists in the pool stage, the joint-most of any player, with three of those coming from kick passes.

5. Holders Leinster have won seven of their last eight quarter-finals and have not lost a home game at this stage since 2005 when they were defeated by Leicester Tigers, winning all six home ties since at the quarter-final stage. 

6. Leinster and Ulster have the joint top two try scorers this season with Sean Cronin and Jacob Stockdale both crossing six times in the pool stage. 

7. Johnny Sexton landed 17 of his 18 kicks at goal during the pool stage, and his success rate of 94% is the best of any player to take more than 10 attempts. 

8. Leinster scored the most points (204) and tries (27) in the pool stage this season. 

9. Ulster’s last two appearances in the knockout stage saw them eliminated by Saracens in 2013, and by Saracens again the following season. 

10. Holders Leinster have won seven of their last eight quarter-finals and have not lost a home game at this stage since 2005 when they were defeated by Leicester Tigers, winning all six home ties since at the quarter-final stage.