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Deep Dive: Guinness Six Nations Round Two stats

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A fascinating weekend of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations saw many pre-Championship expectations turned on their head as all six countries laid down their opening gambits.

A fascinating weekend of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations saw many pre-Championship expectations turned on their head as all six countries laid down their opening gambits.

Scotland, England and Wales all got off to winning starts and currently occupy the top three spots in the Guinness Six Nations table but everything could change in Round 2.

To try and predict what might happen, and highlight some themes to look out for, we’ve taken a deep dive into the stats, powered by AWS, and selected five per game.

Check out comprehensive statistics for every game, powered by AWS – by clicking here.

1. Home sides have won six of the last seven meetings between these nations in the Championship, but they had won just three of the nine games prior to this run. 2. Ireland had possession in England’s territory for just 36.4% of the game on opening weekend – the lowest in the Championship. Meanwhile, Scotland’s 61.9% was second best of the six nations. 3. Ireland and Scotland were the only two teams to score in each quarter of play during round one of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. Every other nation went at least 20 minutes without a score. 4. Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg (14.8) had the highest average distance per carry in round one of the 2019 Championship among players with at least five carries. 5. Three of the four players with most attacking ruck arrivals during the opening week were Irish: James Ryan (44), Josh van der Flier (42) and Rory Best (32).

1. Wales have won 16 of their 19 meetings with Italy, losing twice and drawing once. But those two Azzurri victories did come in Rome – winning 23-20 in 2007 and 30-22 in 2003. 2. Italy averaged 30.3 metres per kick against Scotland, the highest average during round one of the 2019 Championship. 3. Both Italy and Wales scored three tries in round one of the 2019 Championship, including one try each from turnovers. 4. Wales averaged 6.5 metres per carry against France, the highest average during round one of the 2019 Championship. 5. Italy missed just 8.8% (16) of their 182 tackles against Scotland, with only France (7.8%) missing a lower percentage of their tackles in the first round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.

1. Eight of the last nine meetings between England and France have been decided by 10 or fewer points in the Championship, with England’s 55-35 victory in 2015 the exception. 2. England won 98.8% of their 86 rucks against Ireland, while France (98.1%) were the only other nation to win above 98% of their rucks during the opening weekend of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. 3.Both England and France won all five of their own scrums in their opening games and they both went on to win two penalties from those possessions. 4. Wenceslas Lauret made 24 ruck cleanouts in round one, four more than any other player in the Championship. Lauret also had two breakdown steals, as no other player had more than one. 5. Mark Wilson was successful with 27 tackles against Ireland, including seven dominant tackles, only trailing Mako Vunipola in both categories. He also had 14 assisted tackles, five more than any other player in round one.