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The Breakdown: A statistical look at the fourth round of Six Nations matches
By Nicholas McGee
Wales enter the fourth round of the Six Nations in familiar territory as they prepare to face Scotland.
Warren Gatland's men are unbeaten after three matches and the only team left who can complete a Grand Slam.
It is a position they have never let slip since the competition became a six-team tournament, but England and Ireland will look to take advantage should they suffer defeat in Edinburgh.
History is firmly on England's side as they host perennial strugglers Italy, while Ireland welcome a France side on a miserable run of away from to Dublin.
With the help of Opta, we take a statistical look at the fourth round of matches.
Scotland v Wales
Scotland will be aiming to win consecutive home games against Wales in the Five/Six Nations for the first time since winning five in a row against them at Murrayfield between 1987 and 1995.
Wales have won 12 consecutive matches in all competitions, their longest winning run in Test history (W11, 1907-1910).
Wales are the only unbeaten side in this year's championship - only on three previous occasions in the Six Nations have they won their opening three games, going on to complete the Grand Slam on each occasion (2005, 2008, 2012).
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Watch: Gregor Townsend previews Scotland v Wales
England v Italy
England have won all 19 of their clashes with Italy in the Six Nations and remain the only side the Azzurri are yet to taste victory against in the tournament.
The hosts have scored at least one try in each of their last 13 home games in the Six Nations. The last team to stop England crossing the whitewash at Twickenham in the tournament was Italy back in 2013, one of just two occasions that England have failed to score a try at home in the tournament since 2000 (also v Wales in 2012).
England's Owen Farrell needs just six points to reach 800 in his Test career (England & British and Irish Lions) - he would be the 14th player in history to reach that tally and the second Englishman after Jonny Wilkinson (1246).
Watch: Eddie Jones speaks to RugbyPass exclusively ahead of England's Six Nations game against Italy.
Ireland v France
Ireland have won four of their last five games against France in the Six Nations (L1), as many as they had won in their initial 14 meetings in the Championship since 2000 (D2, L8).
There were five tries scored the first time Ireland faced France under Joe Schmidt in the Six Nations, since then just four tries have been scored in the four matches between these sides, with Ireland crossing the try line just once and France three times.
France have lost nine of their last 11 away games in the Six Nations (W2), their only victories in that run coming against Italy (2015 & 2017)
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Latest Comments
The Rebels situation is understandably a touchy subject for Geoff Parling but I’m currently listening to a podcast with Mat Rogers who bluntly said “the best thing to happen to Australian rugby union in the last 15 years is the Melbourne Rebels going broke”, citing the better spread of talent across Australian rugby.
Having Skelton in the squad for the Lions series is a must. Yes he’s a 2nd rower who's a lineout lifter instead of a lineout jumper but his mongrel is essential as displayed against Wales in November.
As for the 7-1 bench split, I flip flop between praising Rassie Erasmus and Fabien Galthie for playing to their team’s strengths and being willing to embrace the trade-off that comes with a 7-1 bench composition but also believing World Rugby should stipulate that a bench must have at least 2 specialist backs.
Go to commentsRatings seem hugely generous, they were awful one and all.
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