Many of the players involved in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations were back in domestic action last weekend, following the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter finals.
Among the headline makers was a superb performance by England’s Owen Farrell, who kicked 18 points in Saracens’ comprehensive win over Northampton Saints.
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell, Scotland flanker David Denton and England winger Jack Nowell were all among the tries, as they scored twice for Scarlets, Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs, respectively.
Here are some of the best stats to have emerged from the weekend.
Picamoles turns on power
There was a superb all-round display by France No.8 Louis Picamoles in Montpellier’s 40-24 defeat of La Rochelle in the French Top 14 on Sunday.
With the ball, the 32-year-old scored a try, made 11 carries and defeated four defenders whilst without it, he got through 18 tackles, a tally only bettered by two NatWest 6 Nations players last weekend.
Wales’ Taulupe Faletau and France’s Wenceslas Lauret both made 20 tackles for Bath and Racing 92, respectively, while there were several other back-rowers who kept up a high work-rate.
Nobody made more carries than England’s Sam Simmonds, who ran with the ball 18 times in Exeter Chiefs’ dominant 46-10 victory over Gloucester, while he also tackled 12 opponents.
CJ Stander of Ireland was among the try scorers for Munster against Southern Kings in the PRO14, while he also beat three defenders and made 34 metres from his 13 carries.
Most carries by NatWest 6 Nations back-rowers Sam Simmonds (England) – 18 David Denton (Scotland) – 14 Kevin Gourdon (France) – 14 Sergio Parisse (Italy) – 14 CJ Stander (Ireland) -13
King of the road
It may have been in a losing effort, but Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn ensured Edinburgh went down swinging against Ulster last Sunday, as he gained 105 metres and beat five defenders.
Amongst the NatWest 6 Nations wingers and full-backs, both stats placed him top of those respective categories, while Josh Adams yet again shone for Worcester.
The Welshman, who is the Aviva Premiership’s top try scorer, made four clean breaks against Newcastle and beat five defenders from 12 carries, which gained 70 metres.
Kinghorn’s fellow Scot, Byron McGuigan, had a superb game for Sale Sharks against Wasps by not just getting on the scoresheet, but by making three breaks and making 80 metres down the right wing.
It was a successful afternoon off the bench for England’s Jack Nowell, who beat four defenders and gained 52 metres in the process of scoring two tries for Exeter Chiefs.
Most defenders beaten by NatWest 6 Nations wingers/full-backs Josh Adams (Wales) – 5 Elliot Daly (England) – 5 Remy Grosso (France) – 5 Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) – 5 Byron McGuigan (Scotland) – 5 Tommy Seymour (Scotland) – 5 Jack Nowell (England) – 4 Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) – 4
Top tacklers
England lock Joe Launchbury did all he could to guide Wasps to victory against Sale Sharks, as he made a massive 21 tackles only for his side to fall to a 91st-minute try from Marland Yarde.
By some margin, it’s the most made by any NatWest 6 Nations second-row forward in the last weekend, with the next highest tally belonging to Scotland’s Richie Gray, who stopped 16 opponents in their tracks for Toulouse against Castres.
Gray also made ten carries during that match, which was only bettered by his countryman Grant Gilchrist and Ireland’s Iain Henderson, who were opponents in Edinburgh v Ulster last Friday.
Gilchrist also got through 15 tackles in that match, while Italy’s George Biagi was fully involved for Zebre against Leinster, reaching a dozen in both carries and tackles made.
Most tackles by NatWest 6 Nations locks Joe Launchbury (Wasps) – 21 Richie Gray (Scotland) – 16 Grant Gilchrist (Scotland) – 15 George Biagi (Italy) – 12 Bradley Davies (Wales) – 12 Devin Toner (Ireland) – 12
