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To help our loyal fans get the most out of the Six Nations this year, we're going to post a bunch of quick fire facts and figures!

So after England humbled Wales, France overran a spirited Scotland and Ireland limped to a win over Italy, click on ahead and see what the facts were for Six Nations 2010 week one!

Read more: Six Nations facts week one:

 
Today is the start of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations.  I'm sure you are all as excited as I am.  One question, though, is lingering in the subconcious of all of Rugbydom, "What does George Hook think?"  Thanks to the lovely people at RTÉ Sport we now have the answer!  "By the end of the tournament, I think the order will be: France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Italy."  Want to know ole Hook's full analysis of the 6 Nations?  Go here: http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2010/0205/georgehook_1.html 

For in depth discussion of all things 6 Nations there is only one place in the universe to go: TRF.  Click Here for TRF's 6 Nations Section.

So a new Millennium dawned, or maybe it didn’t if you want to rehash that old argument, and with it came a new dawn for European rugby with the Italy joining the fold to create the Six Nations Championship.

Things couldn’t have started sweeter for the Azzuri as they announced their arrival in style with a comprehensive win over the defending and last 5 Nations Champions, Scotland. Led by Diego Dominguez and his hat-trick of drop goals they picked up a comfortable win.

Meanwhile at Twickenham, the hangover from Lens continued for Ireland as they shipped 50 points to England. Changes were needed fast and they duly arrived as Scotland were next up for Gatland’s side, whose job was on the line, 4 new caps and suddenly things were looking up as Ireland beat Scotland for the first time since 1988.

 2010 brings about another big number for the Engage Super League, as the sport’s premier competition reaches a new milestone and Super League XV kicks off. 15 years have passed since the competition was launched with much fanfare and fireworks in Paris, and we now enter another season with anticipation.

The competition received a lot of criticism last year from a lot of fans, though not all of them, about the slowed down play of the ball. Last season, teams such as Huddersfield and Hull KR, who weren’t regular playoff contenders in previous years, soared to the high heights of third and fourth respectively. The consensus of many is that they achieved this because of a slowed down play of the ball.

It is definitely true that the play of the ball was slowed down considerably in 2009, a step the RFL used to try and help England’s (ultimately failed) 2009 Four Nations campaign in order to promote ball handling skills. It was personally something I was against and whilst we competed with the Kangaroos for 65 of the 80 minutes in the final, we looked at our best when our quicker players like Roby, Eastmond and Tomkins got on the front foot. 

Read more: Let the Super League extravaganza begin