STATS PREVIEW | Sale Sharks v Saracens Men
19.12.23
In association with
Here are some key numbers ahead of Friday's trip to face Sale Sharks!
- Sale Sharks' four game winning run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended with their 3-36 loss at Harlequins in Round 8.
- The Sharks are the only team ever to have topped the Premiership table with a negative points difference.
- Sale have won their last eleven home games in Premiership Rugby since Harlequins beat them at Salford City Stadium in October 2022.
- Saracens' five game winning streak in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended with their 12-18 home defeat to Northampton in Round 8.
- Saracens have won their last three away games in Premiership Rugby since their heavy defeat at Exeter on the opening weekend.
- Saracens have won four of their last five fixtures against Sale including their 35-25 win in last season's final.
- Saracens have won just once at Salford City Stadium since 2018: 18-12 in April 2022.
- A round-high seven of Daniel du Preez’s 13 carries were dominant in Round 8.
- Ernst van Rhyn made more successful tackles than any other player in Round 8 (24). He also won two turnovers.
- The Sharks have the poorest rate of goalkicking success in the league (54.5%). They have missed a league-high total of 37 points off the tee.
- 27.3% of the Sharks’ kicks in play this season have been contestable – more than any other team.
- Andy Christie, Maro Itoje, and Juan Martin Gonzalez all made three dominant tackles against Northampton Saints; no player made more. Itoje also won two turnovers.
- Alex Lewington is the league’s top try-scorer so far this season: he has scored six. He has also made as many clean breaks as any other player (12).
- Nick Isiekwe has stolen more lineouts than any other player (five). Andy Christie and Theo McFarland have also stolen three apiece.
- Saracens have made an average of 24 maul metres per 80 minutes this season – more than any other team. They have also scored the most maul tries in the Premiership (seven).
