The Six Nations continues this weekend and we take a look at the betting on all 3 matches
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where Wales are now trading as favourites at 15/20 ahead of France at 12/10, the Scottish are 15/1 and you can get 100/1 and better the balance. No Grand Slam winner is trading as 9/10 favourite and you can get 9/4 Wales and 3/1 France winning the Slam.
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ITALY v WALES – Click here to bet
Italy are coming off 3 heavy defeats to start the Tournament going down by 40 points at home to France, 23 away at England and then 38 in Ireland. Strange as it sounds though they haven't been quite as bad as the scores suggest and they have played some entertaining rugby at times.
They face a Wales side that has surprised everyone by winning all 3 of their opening matches. They took advantage of an early Ireland red card to win 21-16 in Cardiff before also benefitting from a red in edging Scotland 25-24 at Murrayfield. It was then back home to play England where they won 40-24 having let the English back into the game only to shut them out in the final quarter.
BETTING
Italy 20/1
Draw 80/1
Wales 1/50
Handicap: Italy (+25.5) at 9/10, Wales (-25.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Italy (+25.5) points at 9/10
Wales are not the type of side to put other teams away and while I think they will beat Italy comfortably; I do think that 25.5 may be a bit much to ask on the Handicap.
ENGLAND v FRANCE – Click here to bet
England started the Tournament as favourites, but they have lost to Scotland at home in Round 1 by 5 points in a low scoring encounter and then last time out went down by 16 to Wales in a surprisingly high scoring match. In between they did beat Italy 41-18 at Twickenham.
France’s Round 3 match against Scotland was postponed due to COVID-19, but they previously edged Ireland by 2 points in Dublin and had a comfortable 40 point win over Italy.
These sides met at Twickenham last season in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup where France fielded a weakened side, but still managed to draw in regulation time only for England to grab the win in extra time.
Last time these sides met in the Six Nations at Twickenham it was England running out comfortable 44-8 winners in 2019.
BETTING
England 5/6
Draw 22/1
France 23/20
Handicap: England (-1.5) at 9/10, France (+1.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Winning margin, France under 12.5 points at 2/1
I am a bit surprised France are not favourites for this game and assume it has got something to do with the COVID because England have not being playing well, so I think of how hard France pushed them in the Autumn Nations Final with a second string team I have to go for the French here, but don’t think it will be by many.
SCOTLAND v IRELAND – Click here to bet
Scotland opened their campaign with a brilliant 11-6 win over England at Twickenham, but then lost disappointingly by a point against Wales at home. Their match against France was postponed and they will need victory here to stay in the Six Nations hunt.
Ireland were disappointing in their opening game going down 21-16 to Wales although the red card was certainly a factor. They then lost 15-13 to France before beating Italy by 38 points in a row.
These sides last met in the Autumn Nations Cup with Ireland winning by 15 points in Dublin. In their last meeting in Edinburgh saw the Irish winning by 12 points back in 2019.
BETTING
Scotland 5/4
Draw 22/1
Ireland 15/20
Handicap: Scotland (+2.5) at 9/10, Ireland (-2.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Scotland +2.5 at 9/10
I have been very impressed with the Scots and although the Wales defeat was disappointing, looking at Wales form it probably wasn’t as bad as it looks. They are still in Six Nations contention and I think they can grab an important win here and will back them to beat the handicap.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
