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Tournament record
Two teams with contrasting records in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash on Saturday as Glasgow Warriors travel to USAP.
The visitors have two wins thus far, triumphing 22-19 at Bath Rugby before beating USAP 26-18 in Edinburgh, leaving them fifth in Pool A.
Hosts USAP remain without a point in 10th, having lost 19-5 at home to Bristol in Round 1 before their defeat to Glasgow.
USAP’s last win came in the TOP 14 back in November, while Glasgow are on a six-game winning streak in all competitions.
The game at the Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan, kicks off at 20:00 (UK & Irish time) and is available to view on epcrugby.tv and FloRugby.
Guess who’s back…
Here’s the lie of the land heading into #ChallengeCupRugby R3 this weekend ⬇️ https://t.co/JjPPmldGIp
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 9, 2023
USAP
- Lucas Velarte made 21 tackles in Round 2 – the highest individual match total of the competition so far. He missed just one tackle.
- USAP have won seven turnovers in the tackle – more than any other club to date.
- However, they have the poorest success rate when kicking at goal (60 per cent).
Glasgow Warriors
- Glasgow have the lowest rate of scrum success in the competition (60 per cent). Prop Simon Berghan has conceded three scrum penalties so far.
- However, they have made 41 metres from mauls inside the opposition 22, more than any other team, and have score two maul tries.
- Glasgow made the fewest kicks in play in Round 2 (15), but also made the most offloads (17).
Glasgow Warriors' Ollie Smith, who has been recalled at full-back by Scotland
Glasgow Warriors confirmed their progression to the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 as they held on to win 40-26 in an 10-try cracker at USAP on Saturday.
Johnny Matthews, Richie Gray, Stafford McDowell, Samuel Johnson, Ollie Smith and Josh McKay went over for the Scottish region, who made it three victories from three in Pool A.
Yellow cards for Smith, Tom Gordon and Cole Forbes made Glasgow’s task somewhat tougher at the Stade Aimé Giral, with USAP crossing four times to take a losing bonus point.
The French hosts started strong as Eddie Sawailau and Nino Seguela dotted down inside 11 minutes, either side of Johnson’s response for Glasgow.
Super Slick 😍
When @GlasgowWarriors need to send the ball to the wings, they’ll get it there… easy 👏#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/RrNMkTsYcJ
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 14, 2023
The visitors wrestled control over the remainder of the first half as Smith returned from his early sin bin, Gray, McDowell and Matthews all notching before the interval.
Matteo Rodor kept USAP in contention with a score on 54 minutes while Gordon was in the sin bin, but Smith and McKay had restored Glasgow’s healthy lead 10 minutes later.
Posolo Tuilagi got over for USAP’s fourth in the closing stages after Forbes had seen yellow, but Glasgow ensured the TOP side were handed a third successive pool stage defeat.
Top seeding for the knockout stage will be the target for Glasgow as they host Bath Rugby in Round 4 on Friday, with USAP travelling to Bristol on the same day.
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