The first action in the 2025 edition of the Six Nations comes from Paris on Friday where France host Wales and the bookmakers pre-match handicap line is a big number
France v Wales, Friday 31st January, Paris, KO 22:15 (South African time)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
Weather Forecast: Paris
France
In the Six Nations last year France finished as runners up, 5 points behind Ireland with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. They lost their opening match at home to Ireland 38-17 before wins in Scotland (20-16), a 13-13 draw at home to Italy, a 45-24 victory in Wales and a 33-31 home win over England.
Les Bleus won all their November internationals, thrashing Japan 52-12, getting the better of Nmew Zealand 30-29 and then seeing off Argentina 37-23. In July last year they shared a 2 match series with Los Pumas in Argentina, winning the first match 28-18 and losing the second 33-25. They also beat Uruguay 43-28.
In the outright betting markets with WSB France are currently 16/10 favourites to win the title and 7/2 to land the Grand Slam
Fixtures & Results: R1 Wales (h), R2 England (a), R3 Italy (a), R4 Ireland (a), R5 Scotland (h)
Wales
Despite losing all their international matches in 2024 Warren Gatland remains in charge of Wales. In the 2024 Six Nations Wales finished bottom of the log. They lost all of their matches; at home to Scotland (27-26), to England at Twickenham (16-14), to Ireland in Dublin (31-7), at home to France (45-24) and finally at home to Italy (24-21).
In the November 2024 internationals Wales lost at home to Fiji (24-19), to Australia (52-20) and finally the Springboks (45-12). In July they also lost twice to the Wallabies in Australia, 25-16 in the first test and 36-28 in the second. Wales also took on South Africa in a one off test at Twickenham in he middle of last year and an understrength side finished well beaten 41-13.
In the outright betting markets with WSB Wales are currently 50/1 shots to win the title and 15/20 to finish with the wooden spoon
Fixtures & Results: R1 France (a), R2 Italy (a), R3 Ireland (h), R4 Scotland (a), England (h)
Team News
France:15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Alexandre Roumant, 3Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka,1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou,20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 6 James Botham, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 8 Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray
Head to Head (6 Nations Only)
2024 6N Cardiff Wales 24–45 France
2023 6N Paris France 41-28 Wales
2022 6N Cardiff Wales 9–13 France
2021 6N Paris France 32-30 Wales
2020 6N Cardiff Wales 23-27 France
2019 6N Paris France 19-24 Wales
2018 6N Cardiff Wales 14-13 France
2017 6N Paris France 20-18 Wales
2016 6N Cardiff Wales 19-10 France
The Betting
Updated 30 Jan 11h16
France -27.5 points at 9/10
Wales +27.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 30 Jan 11h20
This handicap was France -23.5 a week ago and it moved quickly to -26.5 and money for France has seen it edge up to -27.5.
The points line opened at 55.5 but has gone up to 57.5 and even 58.5 in places.
While we have pretty much all of the info available I am going to wait until hearing what my guest on tonights THE HANDICAP our live betting show says before settling on a bet - you can click here to set a reminder for the live show or watch the recording
Bet: to follow
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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