How the back-row numbers add up...

IT’S held up as arguably the most competitive area of the squad when it comes to Lions selection – the back row.

Such is the depth of quality at the disposal of Warren Gatland that making final choices is likely to involve an in-depth conversation with his coaching lieutenants beforehand.

So while statistics don’t always tell the full story, we’ve obtained the definitive figures from Accenture’s analysis team to try to gauge who is leading the race for Lions places based on performance in the first two rounds of the Six Nations.

And thus far there’s one man who stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of what is down in black and white – Ireland’s CJ Stander.

Stander’s figures of 46 carries – more than half of which saw him cross the gainline – 122 metres made, two clean breaks, 12 defenders beaten, 22 successful tackles and three tries see him standing out among his peers in all three back row positions.

The South African-born blindside has also not missed a tackle or conceded a penalty in his adopted country’s encounters against Scotland and Italy.

The performances of Welsh triumvirate Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty also make for intrigue when put in a purely numbers context.

While Moriarty has won rave reviews for his two displays against Italy, and especially England, his success as a ball-carrier is modest to say the least.

Of his 18 carries across the two games, he got over the gainline in just a third of them, making only 16 metres and beating no defenders.

Moriarty was among the most prolific tacklers but his tally of 25 so far is bettered by Tipuric (26), Scotland’s Hamish Watson (34), and Maro Itoje of England (31)

Tipuric meanwhile, though a Trojan tackler quantity-wise, will also want to improve his figures.

The Ospreys dynamo has missed four tackles in the tournament, with Scotland’s Josh Strauss (5) the only one to miss more.

Tipuric will also want to up his gainline efficiency when carrying the ball, which stands at just 32% for the time being.

As for Warburton, his stats fully back up the consensus that relinquishing the captaincy has improved his personal form.

His three turnovers make him the leading tackle-jackler.