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Wed 10 Dec 2014 | 01:47
Best Tries from Round 3 of the Champions Cup PLUS Facts and Stats

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Comments

European rugby was back at the weekend with some fascinating results in Round 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup. Here is a look at some of the best tries that were scored, as well as some interesting facts ahead of the return fixtures of Round 4.

There weren't any mindblowing tries scored, but the standard was high and the finishing good in all of these, particularly in some poor conditions. There are seven tries in total, so if you missed the action at the weekend or just want another look, this should be enjoyable to watch.

In most cases the player on the end of the try didn't have much to do with setting it up, but that's what rugby is all about so well done to Leroy Houston, Owen Farrell, Luther Burrell, Josh Matavesi, Ruan Pienaar, Nathan Hughes and Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

In Round 4 the teams switch venues but play the same opposition again. Here are some quick facts and stats ahead of the round, that kicks off on Friday with Bath hosting Montpellier.

Quick stats and facts:
- Bath's 25 point win over Montpellier was their largest ever on French soil
- Toulouse are the first club to register 100 wins in Europe's top tier with their win over Glasgow
- Saturday will mark Benetton Treviso's 100th game in Europe's top tier
- Leicester's win over Toulon came exactly a year to the day that the reigning champions' nine-match winning run in the tournament started
- Saracens' hooker Jamie George achieved a perfect 14 from 14 lineout throws, as well as being joint top tackler of the round, with 18 tackles and none missed
- Ospreys have lost their last seven games in France, and have won just one of their 13 away games against French opposition
- Rob Kearney beat six defenders lat weekend, more than any other player in Round 3
- Asaeli Tikoirotuma was the only player to hit three figures for metres gained (106m), and he did so from just five carries, which of course included the intercept try seen below
- Clermont Auvergne ended Munster's 100% record against French clubs at Thomond Park - a run that had last 23 games
- Rory Pitman made 18 carries against Ulster, the highest total in Round 3
Player records after three rounds:
- Ian Madigan is top points scorer after 3 rounds, with 49 points. Dan Biggar is second on 37
- CJ Stander has the most carries overall in the tournament, with 51 in total after three matches
- Nick Abendanon has gained the most metres though, with 265m
- Glasgow Warriors' Leone Nakarawa is out in front with the most offloads, with 12 in total.
- Sale Sharks' Magnus Lund has made the most tackles all tournament, with 50 in total, and just 2 missed. Saracen's Jamie George is second with 44 in total, and not a single tackle missed
- Steffon Armitage is the turnover king with 9 in total, while Ashley Johnson is on 8
- George Robson and Graham Kitchener lead the lineouts, with 21 wins each

 

Posted By: Grant Constable

20 Comments

  • drg
    9:22 PM 14/12/2014

    Would say Biggar is better personally... I thought his defensive performance against South Africa was immense and his attacking wasn't too shabby either!

    Not a Wales fan, but I think he was their best fly half performance for a long while!

  • tphillipsstl
    9:07 PM 13/12/2014

    you are right the term "double movement" is not mention in the rugby union laws. But once you've placed the ball and you're held in the tackle on the floor you must release. Therefore, if you are tackled, held and reach out to place the ball across the try line and do not quite reach it, you must release the ball in that possition. You are not allowed to then place the ball back toward your team, or scoot forward and place the ball further down the pitch. So while the term "double movement" isn't mentioned in the law book, it is a shortened way to say what I just said. No Try.

    PS, don't ever come at me with some know it all shite again. I know very little about anything. But I know the laws of rugby. been playing, coaching, reffing my entire life.

  • 8:26 AM 13/12/2014

    I never knew that, and I've been playing for years. Stopping short of the line and trying to play the ball on the ground has been called a double movement by referees in games I've played in, with hand signals to boot.
    Cool to learn something new after 20yrs on the pitch!

  • facepalm
    3:03 PM 12/12/2014

    Sneaky because unless I'm mistaken the bloke qualifies for quite a few different nations. An England cap would tie up his long term future.

  • stroudos
    9:34 AM 12/12/2014

    On the Tikoirotuma replay, just after 5 minutes, did the commentator get Castro-itis?

    "Leinster, looking at their most dangerous. C**ts!"

  • stroudos
    9:13 AM 12/12/2014

    Yes, beautiful run by Hodgson.

  • nzbougnat
    4:48 AM 12/12/2014

    Ain't this ever so slightly slanted towards British teams?
    That being said, some good tries in there. Hodgson' setup was a cracker.

  • 2:58 AM 12/12/2014

    Better than biggar?

  • 2:56 AM 12/12/2014

    If it was Farrell it was easily momentum. And I ain't no fan of his. Btw, hodgson looked awesome

  • 2:55 AM 12/12/2014

    Whys it gotta b sneaky? Dude looks like a better all round prospect Han anyone they have now?

  • 2:54 AM 12/12/2014

    Anticipating where the ball will be and tackling behind gainline= above average skill

    Tackle plus turnover/ penalty earned at ruck= high level skill

    Intercept plus try (negating attack with turnover try, a 10 point turnaround) = elite skill

  • drg
    3:38 PM 11/12/2014

    Can't see how they could have possibly awarded that...

  • flanker2712
    12:29 PM 11/12/2014

    I think willcoll is right. The penalty is for not immediately releasing the ball having placed it. But "double movement" is probably just easier to say and gets the message across.

    I sounds like the ref saying "Try. Try." immediately, so it doesn't sound like there was any doubt in his mind. Presumably he felt the first "placing" of the ball by Farrell was part of the tackled player being brought to ground or, as 1012 says above, his momentum brought him into the in-goal area.

  • stroudos
    11:02 AM 11/12/2014

    Are you sure about that? You'd have to add "international referees" to the list, because over the years I've seen quite a few tries disallowed for double movement...

  • stroudos
    10:39 PM 10/12/2014

    I counted three movements!

  • thefrenchrugbyfan
    8:08 PM 10/12/2014

    sick reading by Tikorutuma there...

  • tphillipsstl
    5:29 PM 10/12/2014

    second one was a double move. no try.

  • marty
    5:26 PM 10/12/2014

    Are my eyes abused or do we see Tikoirotuma sneakily throwing the ball on Gopperth on the ground after his try?

  • facepalm
    5:04 PM 10/12/2014

    Perhaps I'm looking at this rather cynically, but Lancaster must have one eye on a sneaky England cap for Nathan Hughes.

  • jimmy23
    4:51 PM 10/12/2014

    Think it would have to be the Bath try for me, great handling in tight spaces and terrible conditions.

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