RBS 6 Nations in numbers – week two

Despite wreaking havoc at Murrayfield – also known as Muddyfield or Maggotfield – England brushed aside the parasitic nematode worms churning up the outfield and their Scottish opponents with a confident performance in Edinburgh for their first win of the Championship.

Ireland recorded their second win to equal their best start to a RBS 6 Nations season since 2009 to go joint-top of the table along with France, who also recorded victory number two following a 30-10 win over Italy.

Once again we take a look at the most eyebrow-raising numbers and stats from the weekend:

20 – Line-outs won on his own throw from 20 attempts by England hooker Dylan Hartley. Laser-guided.

50% – Territory shared by Ireland and Wales over 80 minutes in Dublin but, despite holding their own in their opposition’s half, the defending RBS 6 Nations champions were emphatically beaten at Lansdowne Road.

2011 – The last time Wales lost an away match in the RBS 6 Nations before this weekend. Warren Gatland’s side are aiming for a Championship treble this season, a feat that has never been achieved in the tournament’s 16-year history.

7 – Penalties conceded by England, the fewest in the Championship in week two.

9:05 – Second-half minutes and seconds it took France to score three unanswered tries by Louis Picamoles, Wesley Fofana and Hugo Bonneval, all converted by Jean-Marc Doussain.

11 – The number of successive matches France have conceded a try in the RBS 6 Six Nations. They were 3:43 mins from breaking that run before Tommaso Inannone slid over in the corner for his first international try.

39% – Territory France occupied over 80 minutes in their 30-10 victory over France at the Stade de France. Surprisingly low considering the result in Paris.

2.46 – The amount of time France second-half replacement Sebastien Vahaaminha was on the pitch before he was shown a yellow card by referee Jaco Peyper for kicking the ball away. He spent the next 10 minutes in the sin-bin and returned for the dying seconds of the match.

17 – Successive matches Italy have lost away from home in the RBS 6 Nations. Their last win outside of Rome was a 37-17 victory against Scotland at Murrayfield on 24 February 2007.

36 – Years since Scotland were beaten without scoring a single point at home to England. The previous was a 0-15 defeat in the Five Nations on 4 March 1978.

50 – International caps won by Leigh Halfpenny, becoming the youngest Welshman to reach the mark aged 25 years and 48 days. The full-back achieved the feat in just over five years. In comparison, it took the great Gareth Edwards almost 11 years to reach the same milestone.

16 – Number of carries by made by number 8 Billy Vunipola against Scotland, the most by any player in the second weekend of the Championship.

Quotes of the week:

“I’ve got a sore neck from looking down one end of the field for the entire second half.” Scotland coach Scott Johnson after his team’s 20-0 defeat by England.

“I’ve never seen someone drink so much coffee in my life.” Wales prop Adam Jones on sharing a room with fellow Lions tourist and Ireland front-row bruiser Cian Healy.

“It hasn’t been the public who have been trying to drag up controversy!” Wales coach Warren Gatland on the warm reception from Ireland fans, unlike some corners of the press bringing up the so-called “grudge” between the Lions coach and Brian O’Driscoll.