Nick David a leading threat among Champions Cup attackers
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With the Champions Cup pool stage now over, we take a look at the notable individual attacking statistics from the first four rounds of fixtures this season and Harlequins back Nick David stands out, topping two categories.
Carries – Zach Mercer (78)
The Montpellier Hérault Rugby No.8’s tally puts him in a league of his own and includes a mammoth 25 in Montpellier’s Round 4 draw with London Irish.
Edinburgh Rugby forward Viliame Mata is the closest to the England international with 64, while Stade Rochelais No.8 Greg Alldritt has 63.
Metres – Nick David and Wandisile Simelane (340)
With 155, David made the most metres of any player in a single Heineken Champions Cup match this season when Quins defeated Cell C Sharks in Round 4. It made him joint leader in the category with Vodacom Bulls back Simelane.
Munster Rugby full-back Mike Haley is nearest to the leading duo with 318, while Cell C Sharks centre Makazole Mapimpi has made an impressive 292 metres in just three matches.
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Line breaks – Bautista Delguy and Cadan Murley (7)
Both ASM Clermont Auvergne wing Delguy and Harlequins wing Murley have produced seven line breaks in the Heineken Champions Cup so far, but Delguy has managed the feat in three games to Murley’s four.
Saracens back Elliot Daly is close behind, having notched up six, while a host of players have five, including Leinster Rugby trio Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien and James Lowe, with wing Lowe requiring only two games to do so.
Defenders beaten- Nick David (20)
With the joint-most metres made, it’s no surprise David leads the way as well for defenders beaten, although Stade Toulousain scrum-half Antoine Dupont is not far behind with 18, half of which came in his side’s Round 4 win over Munster Rugby.
With 16 players beaten in three matches, Clermont’s Delguy has also been a nightmare for Heineken Champions Cup defences.
Offloads – Damian Willemse (10)
The DHL Stormers back is king of the offloads so far, with his tally coming across the four rounds of the pool stage.
Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell is one of four players with eight offloads, making a round-high five against Leinster in Round 4. London Irish wing Lucio Cinti Luna, Cell C Sharks flanker Siya Kolisi and DHL Stormers back-row forward Hacjivah Dayimani are the other players on eight.
