6 Nations: Weekend Stat Watch

With an average of 57 points per game, there was no question it was an attacking round of 6 Nations rugby.

England notched their second successive 6 Nations title with their 61-21 victory over Scotland in the Calcutta Cup, made possible after Wales had beaten 22-9 on Friday night.

France won the Garibaldi Trophy in Rome on Saturday, notching a 40-18 bonus point win over Italy to grab their first 5 pointer of the campaign.

Wingers

Two wide men dominate the attacking statistics in R4 of the 6 Nations. Wales George North & France's Virimi Vakatawa were both lethal whenever they got ball in hand gaining easy yardage for his side.

North was back to his very best in the win over Ireland, making 102m, being one of 6 players to crack 100m+ on the weekend.

Most metres made in Round Four

1=. Brice Dulin (France) - 127
1=. Virimi Vakatawa (France) - 127
3. Jonathan Joseph (England) - 120
4. Simon Zebo (Ireland) - 106
5. Mike Brown (England ) - 104
6. George North (Wales) - 12

The flying Welsh man was made more impressive by beating 8 defenders, a total matched by Vakatawa, who was joint top of the metres made with 126m.

Five clean line breaks for North, 4 for Vakatawa further highlighted their devastating threat on the wing.

Most defenders beaten in Round Four
1=. George North (Wales) - 8
1=. Virimi Vakatawa (France) - 8
3. Keith Earls (Ireland) - 7
4=. Rémi Lamerat (France) - 6
4=. Brice Dulin (France) - 6

The two wingers are set to go head to head in the final round of the 6 Nations, both players have started 3 times on the wing for their respective sides.

Midfield

Most clean breaks in Round Four
1. George North (Wales) - 5
2=. Jonathan Joseph (England) - 4
2=. Virimi Vakatawa (France) - 4
2=. Simon Zebo (Ireland) - 4
5=. Gaël Fickou (France) - 3
5=. Kevin Gourdon (France) - 3


Jonathan Joseph sat out of England's R3 win over Italy. He made a blistering return to England's midfield in their Calcutta Cup clash, with a stunning hat-trick, 120 metres made, and four clean breaks.

Joseph was the standout performer among the centres in action this weekend.

The French midfield duo of Gael Fickou & Remi Lamerat also impressed. Fickou made three clean line breaks while also scoring the opening French try, while Lamerat beat 6 defenders.

Tackle Machines

Most tackles in Round Four
1. Joe Launchbury (England) - 22 made 0 missed
2. Sam Warburton (Wales) - 21 made 1 missed
3. Justin Tipuric (Wales) - 20 made 0 missed
4. Hamish Watson (Scotland) - 19 made 1 missed
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) - 18 made 3 missed

While England and Wales ran in 11 tries between them, despite their three try success, Wales victory was built on their heroic defensive effort.

The back-row trio of Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton and Ross Moriarty racked up a total of 53 tackles between them, missing just one, while Alun Wyn Jones chipped in with a further 18 of his own.

Tipuric also managed a round-high nine lineout takes as the Welsh set-piece continued to impress.

When it comes to tackling, no-one managed more than Joe Launchbury, the in form second-row managed 22 in their victory over Scotland.