Champions Cup stats: Stormers v Quins head-to-head

STAT ATTACK: Sharks, the Stormers and the Bulls will have their first taste of Champions Cup knockout rugby this weekend.

The three South African sides will have to fend off some big teams in an effort to secure a historic Champions Cup title.

There are eight former tournament winners – Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Leinster, Munster, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Stade Toulousain and Ulster – that are in contention to lift the coveted silverware in Dublin on May 20.

The Sharks host Munster on Saturday, April 1, Stormers take on the Harlequins on the same day, while the Bulls head to France to face Stade Toulousain on Sunday.

Heading into the knockouts, Stormers fullback Damian Willemse face a personal battle.

The Springbok and  Nick Davids of Harlequins, who face off in Cape Town, have made the most offloads (10) and beaten the most defenders (20) respectively this season.

In addition, the Quins openside, Will Evans, leads the turnovers category with nine.

Antoine Hastoy of holders, Stade Rochelais who are at home against Gloucester Rugby, is the tournament’s leading scorer with 50 points going into the knockout stage while last season’s EPCR Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier, heads the try-scoring charts with five from his four matches.

Leicester Tigers Ben Youngs, who kick off the Round of 16 against Edinburg at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday is in line to make his 75th tournament appearance if included in the match day 23.

Munster’s Gavin Coombes is the leading tackler so far with 67 from four matches.