Same as the Pro12 analysis, here's a look at the opening two rounds of the Heineken Cup.
Out half:
| Opposition | Player | Kick | Pass | Run |
| Saracens | Parks | 21 | 12 | 3 |
| Zebre | Parks | 19 | 10 | 2 |
Lots of running in the Pro12, but swinging the other way in Europe. Poor conditions in Parma didn't help and it was the right tactic against Saracens, IMO. But lets hope we start to strike a better balance soon.
Parks played all 160 minutes in the two matches, so no stats for the other out halves on the books.
Running:
| Home | Metres run | Possession | Away | Metres run | Possession |
| Connacht | 216 | 51% | Saracens | 419 | 49% |
| Zebre | 439 | 62% | Connacht | 197 | 38% |
Lots of kicking meant very little running. Metres run is way down on the standard set in the Pro12.
On a random note, Zebre ran for 439 metres and last time we met they ran for 394 metres. This kind of numerical anagram makes me giggle. But I sincerely hope they don't manage to run for 934 metres next time we meet.
Lineouts:
| Home | Won/Lost | Away | Won/Lost |
| Connacht | 14/0 | Saracens | 11/2 |
| Zebre | 13/0 | Connacht | 13/1 |
Solid as a rock, the team deserve praise for this. Although we put better pressure on Zebre the last time out.
Scrums:
| Home | Won/Lost | Away | Won/Lost |
| Connacht | 5/0 | Saracens | 6/0 |
| Zebre | 5/1 | Connacht | 7/1 |
Solid in the scrum, but the team could be disappointed they didn't do more damage to Zebre after winning 3 against the head in the opening week.
Turnovers:
| Home | Turnovers | Away | Turnovers |
| Connacht | 9 | Saracens | 12 |
| Zebre | 17 | Connacht | 8 |
As mentioned in the Pro12 stats our turnover average was huge, but we have reduced this significantly.
In attack:
| Connacht | Clean Breaks | Defenders Beaten | Offloads | Opposition | Clean Breaks | Defenders Beaten | Offloads |
| 3 | 11 | 3 | Saracens | 6 | 13 | 7 |
| 6 | 8 | 9 | Zebre | 4 | 18 | 16 |
Zebre's stats were almost identical to our last game, whereas our stats are way down in terms of defenders beaten even though our clean breaks and offloads were more or less the same. In general we are averaging close to 20 defenders beaten in the Pro12.
Obviously defences are tighter in the Heineken, but still, room for improvement.
In defence:
| Connacht | Tackles Made | Missed | Penalties Conceded | Opposition | Tackles Made | Missed | Penalties Conceded |
| 133 | 13 | 8 | Saracens | 123 | 11 | 6 |
| 144 | 18 | 7 | Zebre | 64 | 8 | 12 |
Not bad, not great. Missed tackles against Saracens were way down on our average, but it's around the number we should be aiming for anyway.
(stats by espn)
