Sam Simmonds – Exeter Chiefs (7)

The Exeter No.8 is already only one try short of the eight he notched in the Chiefs’ Heineken Champions Cup-winning season of 2019/20, when he was also voted EPCR European Player of the Year.

The England international scored in all four of Exeter’s Pool A games, following up single efforts against Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Glasgow Warriors in December with a brace against Glasgow in Round 3 and a hat-trick in a losing cause at Montpellier last month.

Incredibly, the powerful 27-year-old back-row forward, who is virtually unstoppable close to the line, averages almost a try a game in his 21 European appearances, registering 19 in that time.

Alex Dombrandt – Harlequins (6)

The Quins powerhouse is another high-scoring No.8 and will surely vie Simmonds for the England shirt in the forthcoming Six Nations after his impressive displays for the English champions helped them finish second in Pool B with four wins from four.

The 24-year-old opened his account against Castres Olympique in Round 1 and followed up with a double against Cardiff Rugby in Round 2.

Cardiff kept him out in Round 3, but Dombrandt bounced back with a treble in Quins’ final pool game against Castres, his third score in the dying seconds clinching victory and giving him a European tally of 13 tries in 15 games.

Jimmy O’Brien - Leinster Rugby (5)

The Leinster wing owes his place in the top three by virtue of scoring four tries in the Irish province’s 64-7 romp at Bath Rugby in Round 4 to clinch their qualification for the last 16 from Pool A.

The 25-year-old flyer notched his other try in the previous round against Montpellier Hérault Rugby, who were also Leinster’s opponents when he registered his first European try in December 2020.

O’Brien therefore averages a try a game in his six European appearances.

As we look forward to the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup, we pause to look back today at the leaders in the try-scorer charts.