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The Breakdown: A statistical look at the second round of Six Nations matches

Ireland players reflect on their defeat to England

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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 5 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

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James 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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dw 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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dw 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

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dw 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 5 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

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JM 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 5 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 5 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

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C
Carlos 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

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S
Solenn Bonnet 5 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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Mzilikazi 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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M
Mzilikazi 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

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M
Mzilikazi 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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BC 5 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

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NB 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

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N
NB 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 5 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
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