Looking at the previous 115 yellow cards and 3 red cards issued in the 180 game history of the
RBS 6 Nations from 2000-2011, and what scoring was achieved by either side during periods when it was not 15-a-side, we discover that the average number of points scored during a ten minute session of inequality is 6.18. In addition teams also manage to score an average of 1.39 points themselves during a sinbin period, making the net worth 4.79 points per yellow card.
England is the best country at minimising the impact of a man in the sinbin, conceding the fewest average points whilst they are a man or more down on their opponents – conceding just 6 tries and 55 points during 132 minutes of inequality, or 4.17 for each PPSB (points per sinbinning). At the same time England have managed to score 3 tries and 28 points whilst disadvantaged.
Italy have played almost four complete games with fewer players than their opponents, and conceded 12% of all their points in these periods.
Ireland have suffered the briefest period of shorthandedness with 71 minutes and conceded just 37 points during this time.
The best nation at taking advantage of their numerical supremacy has been England, who have scored 19 tries and 153 points during 199 minutes of advantage.
Wales has had the most playing time (232 minutes) with an opponent off the pitch, scoring an average of 4.78 points for each period of transgression, but during the same time has managed to concede 63 points including 7 tries along the way, meaning that the value of an opponent’s yellow card to Wales has been a paltry net 2.07 points!
Scotland has not conceded a single point in 100 minutes of playing time with more players than their opponents.