The Six Nations is back after a short break given that the COVID-19 2020 edition finished as late as November.
We take a look at the Outright Betting and the opening weekend’s matches.
Let’s start with a look at the long term markets where England are 11/10 favourites to win the Tournament ahead of France priced at 9/4, Ireland 4/1 and you can get 14/1 and better the balance.
17/20 is the price should you want to back that there will not be a Grand Slam winner and you can get 11/10 that there won’t be a winner of the Triple Crown. Italy are not surprising 1/10 favourites to finish bottom and there are a host of other markets including Top Points Scorer where Owen Farrell is 15/10 favourite and Top Try Scorer where Jonny May is a 9/2 favourite. Click here for all outright markets.
ITALY v FRANCE – Click here to bet
This match takes place in Rome on Saturday. Italy lost all their matches in the 2020 Six Nations and they also had no joy in the Autumn Nations Cup which took place late last year.
France came desperately close to winning the Autumn Nations Cup when a weakened side nearly beat England at Twickenham. They were also runners-up to England in the Six Nations last season. Their last two visits to Rome has seen them win by 11 and 22 points respectively.
BETTING
Italy 14/1
Draw 55/1
France 1/20
Handicap: Italy (+20.5) at 9/10, France (-20.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Half-Time Handicap, Italy (+10.5) at 9/10.
Italy are always a tough team to get on top of at home although they often capitulate in the second-half, for that reason I am looking for a strong start from them and that they stay within 11 points at the break.
ENGLAND v SCOTLAND – Click here to bet
The Calcutta Cup is always much anticipated and this game also takes place on Saturday at Twickenham.
England bounced back from their World Cup final defeat to South Africa in 2019, winning both Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup last year.
Scotland showed some promise at the end of the Six Nations campaign beating Wales on the road and they also managed a victory against France at home. Their Autumn Nations Cup form was mixed and their last game saw them beaten by 15 points against Ireland in Dublin.
The last time these sides met at Twickenham they placed to a 38-38 draw in 2019 and the two meetings prior to that, England won by 40 and 12 points.
BETTING
England 1/7
Draw 40/1
Scotland 6/1
Handicap: England (-14.5) at 9/10, Scotland (+14.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Scotland (+14.5) at 9/10
Scotland look a much improved team and I think they have the potential of causing an upset or two in this Tournament, it probably won’t come at Twickenham, but hopefully they can push England close.
WALES v IRELAND – Click here to bet
This match takes place at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday. Wales won’t be able to rely on the support of their partisan home crowd.
Wales were disappointing in last year’s Six Nations finishing 5th with only one victory and things didn’t go much better in the Autumn Nations Cup where they were hammered by Ireland away from home and were less than impressive in beating Georgia and Italy.
Ireland arrived at the business end of the Six Nations competition eventually finishing third and in the Autumn Nations Cup they beat Wales and Scotland at home, losing to England on the road.
The home team generally comes out on top in this fixture and while Ireland have won the last 2, both of those games were in Dublin. Prior to 2019 Wales won by 18 and in 2017 they won by 13 in Cardiff and in 2015 by 7 points.
BETTING
Wales 14/10
Draw 22/1
Ireland 7/10
Handicap: Wales (+2.5) at 9/10, Ireland (-2.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Ireland win at 7/10
Both of these sides are rebuilding after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but Ireland seem to have progressed far further and they should be good things to win this one.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
