Shoo-ins and surprises... what the statistics tell us about team of Six Nations

WITH just Super Saturday remaining in what has been a riveting 2017 Six Nations, three Welshman currently sit proudly in the team of the tournament.

Statistics compiled from Accenture, the official technology partner of the Championship, have tallied up the numbers from a variety of categories - carries, metres made, clean breaks, defenders beaten, successful tackles, missed tackles, penalties conceded, successful scrums and lineouts, to points and tries scored to come up with a list of the top five performers in each position.

There are no surprises in some positions, with the likes of England lock Joe Launchbury, rampaging Ireland flanker CJ Stander and French powerhouse Louis Picamoles having been standout players throughout.

But in others, the stats tell a different tale to how pundits and supporters have seen it.

For Wales, it is centre Jonathan Davies, hooker Ken Owens and skipper Alun Wyn Jones who top their lists.

We look at the stats and what they mean. Full-back: MIKE BROWN (ENGLAND) 2. Rob Kearney (Ireland) 3. Stuart Hogg (Scotland) 4. Scott Spedding (France) 5. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) A surprise here considering the impact that Hogg has made during the tournament. Brown, though, has made 51 carries and 370 metres – the highest in the opening four rounds – while Hogg has 32 and 218 to his name. Fifth is Leigh Halfpenny with 27 and 147, but has also only beaten three defenders, some way adrift of Brown (11), Kearney (12) and Hogg (10). 2. Garry Ringrose (Ireland) 3. Remy Lamerat (France) 4. Huw Jones (Scotland) 5. Jonathan Joseph (England) The Scarlet leads the way having made more metres (216) than any of his rivals. He has also made more clean breaks (5) and beaten more defenders (8). Leinster talent Ringrose leads the chart for the amount of carries (43) and tackles made (34). 2. Owen Farrell (England) 3. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) 4. Luke McLean (Italy) 5. Scott Williams (Wales) The Frenchman has been one of shining lights behind the scrum, with his dummy and score against Italy sure to make the tournament highlights reel. He has made by some distance (184) the most metres, more than double by Scott Williams (81), who has beaten the same number of defenders as the Toulouse ace (9) and is also the joint leading tackler in the midfield bunch (37). 2. Liam Williams (Wales) 3. Virimi Vakatawa (France) 4. Elliot Daly (England) 5. Giovanbattista Venditti (Italy) A tally of 53 carries and 293 metres sees the flying Munsterman soar above Wales wing Williams, even if Zebo is yet to make it over the whitewash. The Saracens-bound Scarlets favourite has made more clean breaks (9) than anyone in the tournament. He has also scored three fine tries. second to Russell (47) in the tackle tally (46), although 10 misses is uncharacteristic for the Osprey. 2. Rhys Webb (Wales) 3. Baptiste Serin (France) 4. Ben Youngs (England) 5. Edoardo Gori (Italy) A high-calibre contest this one. There is very little between Murray and Webb with the Osprey ahead on carries (29), metres made (124), defenders beaten (6) and tackles made (27). But he has conceded four penalties and made nine handling errors, which has probably counted against him for top spot. 2. Joe Marler (England) 3. Rob Evans (Wales) 4. Jack McGrath (Ireland) 5. Andrea Lovotti (Italy) Ireland’s Jack McGrath (26) and Wales’ Rob Evans (25) have carried more than the Frenchman, but it is Baille’s scrummaging superiority and low penalties conceded that seems to have put him above the rest. The only clean break made by anyone in this position has been made by Evans. 2. Guilhem Guirado (France) 3. Rory Best (Ireland) 4. Ross Ford (Scotland) 5. Dylan Hartley (England) The Wales hooker has been a revelation and the stats back it up. He leads the carry chart (25), along with Guirado - his likely opponent on Saturday - and Lions rival Best, but the Scarlets skipper has made more tackles (53) and missed only two. French skipper Guirado has eaten up an impressive 93 metres, but has given away four penalties as opposed to the squeaky-clean Owens.