Victories for Ireland, France and England – albeit in contrasting styles – mean all three teams are level on six points going into an enthralling and decisive final weekend in the RBS 6 Nations.
Ireland are in the box seat at the top of the table courtesy of their impressive points difference advantage (81) but they travel to Paris – not a happy hunting ground of late for the men in green – next Saturday to play an increasingly unpredictable France while Triple Crown champions England face Italy in Rome, a destination where they have never lost.
We love a good number crunch – and these interesting digits will raise a few eyebrows following this weekend’s action.
136 – Points scored this weekend, the most since the opening round of the 2013 RBS 6 Nations.
41 – Number of tries scored so far in this year’s Championship.
281 – Minutes between England tries against Wales, with Manu Tuilagi the last person to score in 2011, before Danny Care’s early five pointer at Twickenham on Sunday.
11 – Times England have played for the Triple Crown at Twickenham – and won.
150 – Metres more England made collectively in attack than Wales – 570m compared with 420m – almost as much as full-back Mike Brown earned on his own (156m).
49 – Defenders beaten in four matches by England’s back three of Mike Brown (20), Jonny May (16) and Jack Nowell (13). They all rank in the top four.
30 – Debuts England head coach Stuart Lancaster has handed out during his reign after Bath’s George Ford made his first international appearance in the the final two minutes against Wales.
51 – Points scored by Leigh Halfpenny, who is the leading scorer in this season’s Championship, two more than Ireland’s Jonny Sexton. Injury means the Wales full-back is unlikely to stay top of the tree come next weekend.
100 – Percentage kicking success of both Owen Farrell and Halfpenny at Twickenham.
104 – Caps won by prop Gethin Jenkins, making him the joint most-capped player in Wales history alongside fly-half Stephen Jones.
7 – Ireland tries, the most by any nation in a single match this season.
2000 – The year of Ireland’s sole victory in Paris in the last four decades, a record they will need to significantly improve to win the RBS 6 Nations title next Saturday.
245 – Tackles made by Italy against Ireland in Dublin, the most by a distance by any team this weekend.
140 – International caps won by Brian O’Driscoll, a new world record set on Saturday on his last appearance at Lansdowne Road.
62 – Minutes O’Driscoll was on the pitch versus Italy. “Seems a bit of a joke to get Man of the Match for 60 minutes.” That, three assists and a new world record Brian…
105 – Caps won by prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who lasted only seven minutes against Ireland but is now Italy’s most-capped player.
60 – Tackles made by Quintin Geldenhuys, who topped the defensive charts in Dublin. The lock made 23 tackles and didn’t miss one.
19 – Consecutive away defeats Italy have endured in the RBS 6 Nations.
264 – Minutes between Scotland tries at home in the RBS 6 Nations, with Sean Lamont touching down 12 minutes from time against Italy in February 2013 and Stuart Hogg’s score after 12 minutes against France on Saturday.
86 – Test appearances by Sean Lamont, the third most-capped player in Scottish history behind Chris Paterson and Scott Murray.
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