The 2024 Six Nations kicks off this weekend with three highly anticipated matches. France host reigning champions Ireland, Scotland travel to Cardiff to face a young Wales team, while Italy battle it out against England in Rome.
OUTRIGHT BETTING
France are currently the favourites to win this year’s competition due to the fact that they play their toughest opponent, Ireland, at home. The bookies have France to win the Six Nations at 11/10. In a close second is last year’s Grand Slam winner, Ireland at 15/10. If Ireland can steal points from France, they will surely become favourites. In the third spot is an English team that reached the semi-finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup. The bookies have England to win at 6/1.
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France v Ireland – Click here to bet
Some people are already calling it the Six Nations finals. The winner of Friday’s fixture will surely be heavy favourites to go on and win the Six Nations.
France finished 2nd in last year’s championship, 7 points behind Ireland. In 2023, France played 13 matches and won 10 of them with losses coming to Ireland in the Six Nations, Scotland in a warm-up match and South Africa in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Ireland won their first-ever Grand Slam title on home soil in last year’s championship, beating England at the Aviva on the final day. In 2023, they were one win away from equalling New Zealand’s record for most consecutive matches won (New Zealand 18) before losing to New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Over the last 5 times the countries have faced off in the Six Nations, France has won on 3 occasions. The last time France lost to Ireland at the Stade de France was in 2018 to a late drop goal from Sexton. France will be without key combinations Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack but are favourites to win at 6/10, while the bookies have a very strong Ireland side at 17/10.
I think this one will go down to the wire and will back Ireland on the handicap.
Suggested bet: Ireland +4.5 at 9/10
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Italy v England – Click here to bet
Italy will be hoping to steal a win against England with their home crowd behind them. Italy has shown signs of being able to beat the big teams in the last two Championships, it’s just a matter of crossing the line now. They finished at the bottom of the log last year, losing all 5 matches.
Over their last 5 matches, they did manage to pick up 3 wins against Japan, Namibia, and Uruguay, however, they did suffer two heavy defeats to France and New Zealand in their last two pool stage matches in the World Cup.
England finished 4th last year, just above Wales. They only managed to win 2 matches in the Championship against Italy and a weak Wales side. They managed to turn their year around reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup, just losing out to South Africa.
Italy has never beaten England in an international rugby match, but will be looking to make that change. During their last 5 matches, England has scored 31 points or more on every occasion and are heavy favourites with Italy given a 15.5 points start by the bookies.
This should be a high scoring game and I fancy England to continue their dominance.
Suggested bet: England to score over 33.5 points at 17/20
Wales v Scotland – Click here to bet
A match that will undoubtedly be a thriller. Wales is looking for a fresh start with a young team looking to build, while Scotland fields arguably one of their greatest-ever teams.
Wales had a disappointing Six Nations last year, finishing 5th with only 1 win coming against Italy. They managed to turn that around in the group stages of the World Cup, winning all four group stage matches but then went on to lose to Argentina in the quarterfinals. Wales will be without key man, Dan Bigger after his international rugby retirement and star boy Louis Rees-Zammit, who has decided to pursue a career in the NFL.
Scotland managed to finish an impressive 3rd in last year’s competition, winning 3 matches and losing out to world number 1 and 2 at the time, Ireland and France.
Scotland did not have high hopes as they entered the World Cup being placed in the toughest group with South Africa and Ireland. They put up a good fight but unfortunately were not able to progress through the group stages.
Of the last 5 matches against one another, Wales has won three times with Scotland winning two. The most recent result was a convincing win for Scotland at Murrayfield (35-7). Scotland are favourites to win at 7/10, with Wales trading at 29/20.
I am backing Scotland to put the youngsters away.
Suggested bet: Scotland -3.5 at 17/20
Prices correct at time of posting but subject to change.
