Pool 1: Timisoara Saracens vs Dragons
When: Saturday, October 13
Venue: Dan Paltinisanu Stadium
Kick-off: 2.30pm local time
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra),
Assistant Referee 1: Adrien Descottes (Fra),
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Soulan
Citing Commissioner: Danae Zamboulis (Eng)
MATCH FACTS:
• This will be the first meeting between Timisoara Saracens and Dragons, and Timisoara’s first game against Welsh opposition.
• Timisoara lost all six of their matches in their previous European campaign (2016/17 Challenge Cup).
• Dragons have lost six of their last seven away games in the Challenge Cup, only defeating Enisei-STM in that time (Round 2, 2017/18).
• The Dragons kicked from hand more often than any other side on average last season, putting boot to ball 28 times per match in 2017/18.
• The Dragons’ Rynard Landman stole six lineouts during last season’s Challenge Cup campaign, the joint most of any player (level with Gloucester’s Ed Slater).
TOURNAMENT RECORD:
Timisoara Saracens: P6 W0 D0 L6
Points For 26 Points Conceded 280
Tries scored 2, Tries Conceded 41
Highest Score 17 (v Edinburgh 2016/17)
Most tries for 2 (v Edinburgh 2016/17)
Heaviest margin of defeat 72 (v Harlequins 2016/17)
Dragons: P54 W31 D0 L23
Points For 1522 Points against 1108
Tries 188 Tries conceded 127
Highest score 69 (v Bucharest Wolves 2014/15)
Biggest margin of victory 56 (v Bucharest Wolves 2014/15)
Heaviest defeat 33 (v Sale Sharks 2015/16)
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:
First meeting in the competition
Pool 1 - Northampton Saints v ASM Clermont Auvergne
When: Saturday, 13 October
Venue: Franklin's Gardens
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal)
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jones (Wal)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Rees (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (Ire)
MATCH FACTS:
• Both are former tournament winners: Saints in 2009 and 2014, Clermont in 1999 and 2007.
• Saints and Clermont met in the pool stage of the Champions Cup last season with both clubs winning at home. The only previous time that Saints had hosted Clermont was in October 2001 when the French outfit won 21-15.
• This will be the first time in 10 years that Northampton have competed in the pool stage of the Challenge Cup. In 2008/09 they won the competition with five of their nine victories coming against French opposition.
• Saints have lost just one of their last 12 home games against TOP 14 sides (W10, D1) in European competition, including pool stage wins against Montpellier and Toulon in their last full Challenge Cup campaign.
• Clermont have only lost two of their last 17 Challenge Cup matches, a first-leg quarter-final defeat to Pau in 2004/05 and a semi-final loss to Stade Francais Paris in 2010/11, their most recent fixture in the competition.
• Saints have lost just one of their last 12 home games against TOP 14 sides (W10, D1) in European competition, including pool stage wins against Montpellier and Toulon in their last full Challenge Cup campaign.
• Clermont have won their last four games against Premiership opposition in the Challenge Cup, the last such game being the 2007 final against Bath.
• Clermont averaged less possession per game (15m 17s) than any other side in the pool stage of last season’s Champions Cup.
• Northampton (91%) and Clermont (90%) were two of just four clubs to record a lineout success rate of 90% or better in the Champions Cup last season, although Saints also recorded the lowest scrum success rate (63%).
• Saints’ Dan Biggar recorded the best goalkicking success rate (94%) of any player to attempt 10+ kicks at goal in European competition last season. He was on target with 15 of his 16 place kicks for the Ospreys in the Champions Cup.
TOURNAMENT RECORD
Northampton Saints P31 W25 L6
Points for 1036 Points conceded 495
Tries scored 132 Tries conceded 56
Highest score 66 (v Nice1997/98 and Bristol 2008/09)
Biggest margin of victory 63 (v Bristol 2008/9)
Heaviest margin of defeat 30 (v Connacht in 1997/98)
Twice tournament champions (2008/09, 2016/17)
Clermont ASM: P54 W41 D0 L13
Points For 1925 Points Against 917
Tries scored 241, Tries conceded 87
Highest Score 97 (v Aberavon in 1998/99)
Biggest margin of victory 84 (v Aberavon in 1998/99)
Heaviest defeat 19 (v Beziers 2000/01)
Twice tournament champions (1998/99, 2006/7) and once runners up (2003/04)
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:
• This will be the first Challenge Cup meeting between Northampton and Clermont, however, they have met five times before in the European Cup with the TOP 14 side winning four (L1).
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets for the Dragons first home match in this year's competition against Northampton Saints on Friday 19 October, with early bird tickets available until midnight Monday.
When: Saturday, October 13
Venue: Dan Paltinisanu Stadium
Kick-off: 2.30pm local time
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra),
Assistant Referee 1: Adrien Descottes (Fra),
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Soulan
Citing Commissioner: Danae Zamboulis (Eng)
MATCH FACTS:
• This will be the first meeting between Timisoara Saracens and Dragons, and Timisoara’s first game against Welsh opposition.
• Timisoara lost all six of their matches in their previous European campaign (2016/17 Challenge Cup).
• Dragons have lost six of their last seven away games in the Challenge Cup, only defeating Enisei-STM in that time (Round 2, 2017/18).
• The Dragons kicked from hand more often than any other side on average last season, putting boot to ball 28 times per match in 2017/18.
• The Dragons’ Rynard Landman stole six lineouts during last season’s Challenge Cup campaign, the joint most of any player (level with Gloucester’s Ed Slater).
TOURNAMENT RECORD:
Timisoara Saracens: P6 W0 D0 L6
Points For 26 Points Conceded 280
Tries scored 2, Tries Conceded 41
Highest Score 17 (v Edinburgh 2016/17)
Most tries for 2 (v Edinburgh 2016/17)
Heaviest margin of defeat 72 (v Harlequins 2016/17)
Dragons: P54 W31 D0 L23
Points For 1522 Points against 1108
Tries 188 Tries conceded 127
Highest score 69 (v Bucharest Wolves 2014/15)
Biggest margin of victory 56 (v Bucharest Wolves 2014/15)
Heaviest defeat 33 (v Sale Sharks 2015/16)
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:
First meeting in the competition
Pool 1 - Northampton Saints v ASM Clermont Auvergne
When: Saturday, 13 October
Venue: Franklin's Gardens
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal)
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jones (Wal)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Rees (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (Ire)
MATCH FACTS:
• Both are former tournament winners: Saints in 2009 and 2014, Clermont in 1999 and 2007.
• Saints and Clermont met in the pool stage of the Champions Cup last season with both clubs winning at home. The only previous time that Saints had hosted Clermont was in October 2001 when the French outfit won 21-15.
• This will be the first time in 10 years that Northampton have competed in the pool stage of the Challenge Cup. In 2008/09 they won the competition with five of their nine victories coming against French opposition.
• Saints have lost just one of their last 12 home games against TOP 14 sides (W10, D1) in European competition, including pool stage wins against Montpellier and Toulon in their last full Challenge Cup campaign.
• Clermont have only lost two of their last 17 Challenge Cup matches, a first-leg quarter-final defeat to Pau in 2004/05 and a semi-final loss to Stade Francais Paris in 2010/11, their most recent fixture in the competition.
• Saints have lost just one of their last 12 home games against TOP 14 sides (W10, D1) in European competition, including pool stage wins against Montpellier and Toulon in their last full Challenge Cup campaign.
• Clermont have won their last four games against Premiership opposition in the Challenge Cup, the last such game being the 2007 final against Bath.
• Clermont averaged less possession per game (15m 17s) than any other side in the pool stage of last season’s Champions Cup.
• Northampton (91%) and Clermont (90%) were two of just four clubs to record a lineout success rate of 90% or better in the Champions Cup last season, although Saints also recorded the lowest scrum success rate (63%).
• Saints’ Dan Biggar recorded the best goalkicking success rate (94%) of any player to attempt 10+ kicks at goal in European competition last season. He was on target with 15 of his 16 place kicks for the Ospreys in the Champions Cup.
TOURNAMENT RECORD
Northampton Saints P31 W25 L6
Points for 1036 Points conceded 495
Tries scored 132 Tries conceded 56
Highest score 66 (v Nice1997/98 and Bristol 2008/09)
Biggest margin of victory 63 (v Bristol 2008/9)
Heaviest margin of defeat 30 (v Connacht in 1997/98)
Twice tournament champions (2008/09, 2016/17)
Clermont ASM: P54 W41 D0 L13
Points For 1925 Points Against 917
Tries scored 241, Tries conceded 87
Highest Score 97 (v Aberavon in 1998/99)
Biggest margin of victory 84 (v Aberavon in 1998/99)
Heaviest defeat 19 (v Beziers 2000/01)
Twice tournament champions (1998/99, 2006/7) and once runners up (2003/04)
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:
• This will be the first Challenge Cup meeting between Northampton and Clermont, however, they have met five times before in the European Cup with the TOP 14 side winning four (L1).
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets for the Dragons first home match in this year's competition against Northampton Saints on Friday 19 October, with early bird tickets available until midnight Monday.
