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As the games go by, then more data we have create a picture of the traits of teams in this year’s Men’s Six Nations. With round 2 under our belt we can now begin to identify trends or, more intriguingly, contrast different performances to reach more in depth conclusions. Let’s crunch the numbers…
As the games go by, then more data we have create a picture of the traits of teams in this year’s Men’s Six Nations. With round 2 under our belt we can now begin to identify trends or, more intriguingly, contrast different performances to reach more in depth conclusions. Let’s crunch the numbers…
In the first game of the championship, George Ford kicked from hand a mighty 26 times for very nearly 1,000 metres. Against Scotland, however, He kicked from hand a mere 8 times and the whole team around him combined for just 661 kick metres in total.
This reflects not only how scoreboard pressure prevented England from sticking to their normal, kick-heavy game plan, but also how Scotland and the rugby genius of Finn Russell refused to play into Ford’s hands in the same way Dan Edwards and Wales had a week before.
Winning back contestable kicks has been one of, if not the most important job for England back 3 players in the Borthwick era, but the players he selected against Scotland were completely outclassed by their Scottish counterparts. In total, the English starting back 3 lost 9 turnovers between them - compared to just 1 loss from the Scots.
It was the same in all facets of the game; Scotland had the better of clean breaks and defenders beaten. Meanwhile, Henry Arundell had a remarkably busy game: 2 defenders beaten, a line break, a try, 2 turnovers lost and 2 yellow cards all in the space of 26 minutes on the field!
Whilst most of the discourse post their game against Ireland was about how much Italy have improved, there is still one area of the game which is distinctly lacking: their attack. Italy managed just 0.8 points per 22m entry against Ireland, continuing a trend from 2025 which saw them struggle to manufacture opportunities and take any they did create.
The Italians have broken the 25 point mark just twice since the 2024 November tests: against Chile and against Namibia. What’s more, they have been held to less than 20 points in 50% of games in that time. In an era where try-scoring records are tumbling, they will struggle to pick up more wins until this issue is sorted.
Whilst tactics and selection are areas of hot debate in Ireland, perhaps the most troubling stats relate to their physicality - or lack thereof. Being beaten up by France in Paris can be forgiven, but Italy registered 20 dominant hits to Ireland’s 9 in this game, despite both teams having roughly the same tackle attempts.
Furthermore, Italy narrowly edge the post contact metres per carry. The best example of this was when number 8 Lorenzo Cannone fielded a ball from an Irish clearance, ran it straight back into 2 Irish defenders, and still got over the gainline. If we count the scrum amongst the physicality stakes - where Italy were monstering Ireland at times - then these are all worrying signs for Andy Farrell.
According to one stats provider, France made 155 ball carries against Wales but were only tackled 140 times. They beat over 30 defenders and made 18 line breaks with no fewer than 5 French players making at least 2 breaks each.
Add in 217 passes, 25 offloads and just 84 rucks and you see how the visitors were able to roam the pitch in Cardiff eluding their Welsh hosts with ease. Meanwhile, France made 207 tackles themselves with 90% success and 15 dominant shots.
Receiving dominant shots were the least of Wales’ attacking issues. The defence has rightly been flagged as an area of serious concern but their attack appears adept at finding only opposition shoulders.
Whilst France evaded tackles with ease, Wales managed to receive 207 despite only carrying the ball 157 times, indicating they were frequently double tackled. Opta posted in the week that Wales were drawing 2 defenders with 72% of their carries, which rather than creating space now appears to show just how predictable their carries are. The net result was they made an average of less than 2 post contact metres per carry.
The men in red managed to have 51% of the possession in this game but only 41% of the territory, indicating they were playing most of their phases (of which there were a remarkably high 122) in their own half.