The annual Six Nations Championship between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales begins tomorrow night.
It all starts with the French taking on the Italians from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome followed by England playing Scotland at Twickenham Stadium and finally Wales facing Ireland at the Millenium Stadium.
italy v france
february 7th 1:15am
France ventures down to Rome for its first game in the Six Nations tournament as it prepares to do battle with Italy.
Having to settle as runner-up in the 2020 edition of the Six Nations, the French will be looking to go one better this year and have the young talent and offensive nous to do so.
French coach Fabien Galthie will be expecting his side to win this game against Italy fairly comfortably given the form it has shown in recent tournaments.
24-year-old scrum half Antoine Dupont and 23-year-old flanker Dylan Cretin have shown their ability with the ball in hand which will certainly trouble this Italian defensive line.
Italian coach Franco Smith is looking to regenerate Italian rugby by picking a relatively young squad.
Winger Luca Sperandio is the most experienced player in the defensive back half with only eight union caps to his name.
With Smith showing his faith in youth it’s hard to see Italy being good enough to beat a French side who looks set to go far into this tournament as it builds towards the 2023 World Cup.
From a betting perspective there is no value in the head to head but we’ll settle on the total points scored bet.
Prediction: France 40 Italy 15
Suggested Bet: Total point scored over 51.5 at $1.91
england v scotland
7th february 3:45am
Reigning Six National champion England collide with Scotland as the hosts look to extend their unbeaten run in London against their next door neighbours.
Since 1983, Scotland has failed to win a union match in London but it will fancy its chances to buck that trend on Monday morning against an English team who have been struggling recently, having recently lost to an undermanned French squad.
England will be without props Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola which will make ball carrying in tight situations a bit more difficult as this Scottish defence will be up for the fight.
The Scottish threat lurks out on the wings with Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell. The issue with Scotland as their lack depth, outside the Wings there just isn’t much top end talent.
If it has any chance of winning this clash it will need to get some run and carry from scrum half Ali Price.
The Scots also need to be wary of their discipline after they gave away 15 penalties in their most recent fixture against Ireland in Dublin.
This English squad does have the experience to overcome any shortfalls the Scots may expose but at $1.15 there is no way we can back the home team at such a short quote.
Scotland can definitely prevail in this one.
Prediction: England 15 Scotland 17
Suggested Bet: Back Scotland at $5.25
wales v ireland
february 8th 2:00am
Wales will be looking to repeat the outcome when it last hosted Ireland.
It was the 2019 edition of the Six Nations when these two nations last met and the Welsh ran away with a 25-7 victory.
However, since that glorious day for Wales, it has only managed to win one championship match and Ireland has its eyes set on revenge.
Both teams will enter this game seeking the right combination of youth and experience.
Welsh coach Wayne Pivac has elected to start star wing prospect Louis Rees-Zammitt for his debut Six Nations match after an impressive season with Gloucester.
Rees-Zammitt will combine in the backline with the experienced George North donning his 99th cap for Wales.
While for the Irish, Iain Henderson and Tadgh Beirne are timely inclusions with their pair fully recovered from their injuries.
From a head to head perspective the last seven games between these two nations, the away team has failed to pick up a win which bodes well for Wales here.
With the home advantage to Wales and having won the last time it played Ireland we will side with the home team who look great value at the $2.70 quote.
Prediction: Wales 27 Ireland 20
Suggested Bet: Back Wales head to head at $2.70
