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The Breakdown: A statistical look at the second round of Six Nations matches
By Peter Thompson
Scotland will be out to claim a record-equalling eighth consecutive home victory in the Six Nations when they face a wounded Ireland, while England and Wales are strong favourites to make it two wins out of two.
Ireland were rocked by England in Dublin last Saturday, the defending champions and 2018 Grand Slam winners going down 32-20 at the Aviva Stadium.
Scotland started the tournament with a 33-20 victory over Italy at Murrayfield and will be looking to show they are genuine title contenders by inflicting more misery on the injury-hit holders on Saturday.
In the final match of the weekend on Sunday, England will be expected to see off a France side smarting from a second-half collapse against Wales in the opening game of the tournament in Paris last Friday.
Warren Gatland has made 10 changes to his side to face Italy, but Wales should still have too much for the Azzurri in Rome on Saturday.
With the help of Opta, we take a statistical look at the second round of matches.
Scotland v Ireland
Scotland have not reeled off eight victories in a row in the tournament since achieving the feat between 1972 and 1975.
Gregor Townsend's men can expect a backlash from an Ireland side attempting to avoid back-to-back defeats for the first time since their tour of South Africa in 2016.
Ireland have won four of their last five Six Nations matches against Scotland, the one defeat coming at Murrayfield two years ago.
Captain Greig Laidlaw needs 10 points to overtake Gavin Hastings's tally of 667 and become Scotland's second-highest points scorer behind Chris Paterson (809).
Italy v Wales
Wales produced a record-breaking second-half fightback to beat Les Bleus at Stade de France, rallying from 16-0 down to win 24-19 after George North was gifted a double.
Italy will have their hands full as they attempt to deny Wales an 11th consecutive victory and secure their first Six Nations win at Stadio Olimpico since 2013.
Wales will be expected to record back-to-back away victories in the competition for the first time since 2015.
Italy's defeat against Scotland was their 18th in a row in the tournament, setting a new unwanted record which was previously held by France.
England v France
France beat England in Paris last year, but have lost nine of the last 12 Six Nations games between the two nations.
England have been beaten only once at Twickenham in 'Le Crunch' in the Six Nations era, Dimitri Yachvili inspiring an 18-17 victory in 2005.
Since the start of 2018, France have lost five of the seven games that they have led at half-time in - more than any other international side in that time.
Mark Wilson and Mako Vunipola both made 27 tackles against Ireland. No other player in any of the three matches made more than 20 and no England player has ever made as many in a Six Nations game
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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