Challenge Cup Stats & Facts: Sale Sharks vs Connacht

A look at 15 Stats and Facts ahead of tomorrow's Challenge Cup match between Sale Sharks and Connacht at AJ Bell Stadium:

1. Connacht and Sale Sharks will be meeting for the third time this season, with a win apiece in the Pool stages.

2. The biggest win Sale have had in the competition came in 2001 beating Rugby Roma by 93 points

3. Friday's clash will see Bundee Aki make his first start for Connacht since featuring in all of Ireland’s games in the recent Six Nations Championship.first start for Connacht since featuring in all of Ireland’s games in the recent Six Nations Championship.

4. Sale have played 87 tournament matches winning 59, losing 26 and drawing 3.

5. Like Connacht, Sale have also won 5 games from 6 in the Challenge Cup pool stages.

6. Sale’s top scorer is Far De Klerk with 45 points, followed by Chris Ashton on 35 points.

7. Andy Friend’s side head to England knowing they are just two wins away from an appearance in the Challenge Cup final at St. James’ Park Newcastle on Friday May 10th.

8. Sale secured a deserved 34-13 win when these sides met last October, before Connacht came out on top in early January with a narrow 20-18 win at The Sportsground.

9. Sale made on average over 391 metres compared to Connacht’s 334m.

10. Sale Sharks currently sit in 6th place in the English Premiership after 8 wins and a draw from 17 games.

11. Sale's heaviest defeat came at the hands of French side Agen in 2000 losing by 35 points.

12. Connacht have played 125 games to date in the competition, winning 68, losing 56 and drawing 1.

13. The biggest win for them came in 2011 when they beat Cavalieri Prato by  76 points, the biggest loss came to London Irish in 2009 losing by 70 points.

14. The Connacht side will be captained by hooker Tom McCartney, who makes his 100th appearance for the province.

15. Sale have had a 95% scrum success rate while Connacht had a 92% success rate.