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Alex Lozowski in action for Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup in 2019
Saracens and Edinburgh Rugby will face off for the first time in the EPCR Challenge Cup when the three-time European champions welcome the Scottish region to StoneX Stadium in Round 1 on Saturday.
The two teams have met twice before in the European Cup, with Saracens running out winners on both occasions in the 2012/13 pool stage, by an aggregate score of 85-7.
Other key facts:
- Saracens are participating in the EPCR Challenge Cup for the first time since 2009/10, they boast a 100% win rate at home in the pool stage of the competition, winning each of their 15 such fixtures.
- Edinburgh have lost just two of their last 14 pool stage games in the Challenge Cup (W11, D1), with both those defeats coming away in France, against Stade Français Paris in 2017/18 and Union Bordeaux-Bègles in 2019/20.
- Edinburgh conceded just 9.3 infringements per game during their Heineken Champions Cup campaign last season, the fewest of any side in the competition.
- Edinburgh won each of their 15 scrums on their own feed in the Heineken Champions Cup last season, one of just five sides to record a 100% scrum success rate, along with Bath Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, Harlequins and Stade Toulousain.
#ChallengeCupRugby is back in TWO days
Don't want to miss out?
Watch all the coverage on @btsportrugby, @S4C, @beinsports_FR , @ftvsport_pro or https://t.co/JBtlkoE35e 📺 pic.twitter.com/NPWIB0Gtrn
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) December 8, 2021
Key quotes:
Alex Goode (Saracens utility back): “There’s still a big group of us who have been through some of those tough journeys and those tough games, and even those finals where we’ve had to grind out wins. We know how special Europe is.”
Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby head coach): “This is a real challenge for the club. I’d say Saracens are one of the best teams in Europe, [we’re] playing away from home, it will be a really good measure of where we’re at. [It’s] a really good opportunity to play against some world class individuals and an excellent team.
Edinburgh celebrations after an EPCR Challenge Cup try
Tries from Ramiro Moyano Joya and WP Nel helped Edinburgh Rugby to spring a surprise and secure a narrow 21-18 victory over three-time European champions Saracens in a EPCR Challenge Cup Round 1 encounter in Pool C on Saturday.
Emiliano Boffelli also did his part, contributing a trio of penalties and converting Moyano’s try.
Try for @EdinburghRugby 🏰
Power on show from the visitors as WP Nel delivers late on at StoneX Stadium 💪#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/uJIoHG1sqI
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) December 11, 2021
Saracens crossed the line twice courtesy of Alex Goode and Andy Christie, with Manu Vunipola converting the second and also kicking two penalties.
It was the first time the two teams had played each other in the EPCR Challenge Cup – although they had met twice before in the European Cup, with Saracens running out winners on both occasions in the 2012/13 pool stage, by an aggregate score of 85-7.
The match had an enforced break in the first half due to an injury to Saracens’ Kapeli Pifeleti.
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