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Six Nations Stats – Week 1

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg

With England on a 15-game unbeaten run, Ireland dismantling the All Blacks in Chicago last, and Scotland on an upward trend, this year’s tournament is more competitive than ever. We’ll be looking at the stats each week to identify some of the top performers.

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Attack

Meters Made (Total)

Stuart Hogg (104) was Scotland’s best attacking threat – scoring two tries and cementing his place on the Lions tour come June, in case there was any doubt.

Despite Hogg’s exceptional performance, Frenchmen Virimi Vakatawa (121) and Scott Spedding (116) racked up the highest meters gained with the ball in hand. 60-meter-try man George North (108) was in third place. Full-backs Rob Kearney (105) and Mike Brown (104) were close behind with Leigh Halfpenny (56) making the least meters of any full-back this weekend, yet surprisingly winning the MOTM award in Rome.

Clean Breaks

Irish fly-half Paddy Jackson (4), standing in for the injured Sexton, broke the line the most of any player this weekend, and scored a brilliant try in the process. The pre-match pundits backed him to shine and despite the result, he certainly showed why Joe Schmidt had every confidence in him. Sexton will regain the jersey once fit, but an able understudy is emerging.

Elliot Daly (3) broke the French defence more than any other man in white, whilst Nakaitaci (3) and Liam Williams (3) did so for their respective nations. Stuart Hogg (2) was Scotland’s brightest spark when it came to clean breaks.

Defenders Beaten

The space a full-back is blessed with as they attack from deep hands them the best platform to beat the first man. Rob Kearney (7) led the way this week with team-mate Robbie Henshaw (6) also causing problems for Scotland. Paddy Jackson (5) again features whilst Mike Brown (3) and Jonny May (3) evaded the most Frenchmen. Scott Spedding (5) and Vakatawa (4) were the best runners for the French

Jonathan Davies (5) had a fantastic game for Wales at centre, scoring the men in red’s first try and assisting in Liam Williams’ score later in the game. Italian Venditti (3) beat the most Welsh defenders, whilst Stuart Hogg (3) yet again featured on top for the Scottish.

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Defence

Tackles Missed

The main defensive headline this week was that Welshman Justin Tipuric (4) , who famously hasn’t missed a tackle since last year’s competition, missed the most out of anyone for his country. In fairness to Tipuric, one or two were from kick chases, but one did allow a strong line break from the Italians. Scotland’s Dunbar (5) was the only player to miss more this weekend, but was closely followed by team-mates Finn Russell (4) and Huw Jones (4). Contrary to the score-line, only one Irishman missed more than a single tackle- that player being Keith Earls (2).

Howler of the weekend perhaps came from Italian full-back Padovani (3) who didn’t make a single tackle, whilst at Twickenham, captains Dylan Hartley (4) and Guilhem Guirado (3) dropped off the most tackles for their respective teams.

Tackles Made

This is perhaps where the game was won at Murrayfield. Brothers Jonny Gray (27) and Richie Gray (23) made an incredible fifty tackles between them, whilst Richie missed none and Jonny missed two. Ross Ford (19), Hamish Watson (19) were also amongst twelve Scotland players to make 10 tackles or more at the weekend.

Irish centre Garry Ringrose (13), who Keith Wood refused to brand as the new Brian O’Driscoll on Saturday, had a fine game in defence making the most tackles of any Irish back and missing only one. Captain Rory Best (17) made the most for Ireland and he missed none, and Devin Toner (15) had a good shift bunking down at second row. Ireland’s defensive effort saw six players make more than 10 tackles.

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England nearly faced an upset as France came out swinging and took the game to the wire. Launchbury (15), Wood (15) and Itoje (15) were the red rose’s top tacklers, whilst Gourdon (15) had the highest tackle count for les bleus.

Player of the Week

Stuart Hogg – Lived up to the pre-game hype that surrounded his name, and delivered two tries and a solid attacking display.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 7 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

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James 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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dw 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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d
dw 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

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dw 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 7 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

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JM 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 7 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 7 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments
C
Carlos 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments
S
Solenn Bonnet 7 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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M
Mzilikazi 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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M
Mzilikazi 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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B
BC 7 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

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N
NB 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

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N
NB 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 7 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ ‘Money is pouring into the All Blacks, yet the more they spend, the less return they get’ ‘Money is pouring into the All Blacks, yet the more they spend, the less return they get’
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