The 2018 Six Nations Championship gets underway in Cardiff this Saturday afternoon. Wales and Scotland get this year’s tournament up and running with a mouth-watering matchup in the Principality Stadium. Later in the day, Joe Schmidt’s Ireland travel to the Stade de France to play Jacques Brunel’s France.
England begin the defence of their crown with a trip to the Stadio Olimpico to play Italy on Sunday. Eddie Jones’ boys will be looking to get their campaign kick-started with a big victory in the Italian capital this weekend.
- Wales v Scotland – Wales to Win (3/4 at Betfair)
- France v Ireland – Ireland to be Winning at Half Time and Full Time (5/6 at Ladbrokes)
- Italy v England – England to Win -20 (Evens at Betfair)
Wales v Scotland – 3rd February
Wales will be hoping to put last year’s disappointing tournament to the back of their minds by beginning 2018 with a win in Cardiff this Saturday. With Warren Gatland back in the hot-seat, the Welsh head into this one in the Principality Stadium as the slight favourites with the bookies. However, they are coming up against a Scotland side who have been tipped by many to be the dark horses of the tournament this year.
Both Wales and Scotland are outsiders, but a win for either of these on Saturday will set them up nicely for the following six weeks. The Scots are actually fancied ahead of Wales to lift the trophy this year. Gregor Townsend’s men are in good form and are more than capable of winning in Cardiff this weekend.
However, the Welsh, who have several injury worries going into the tournament, are the favourites to get off to a winning start on their own patch on Saturday. It won’t be an easy task, but home advantage could just give them the edge. Have a punt on Gatland’s boys to prevail at 3/4 with Betfair.
Wales to Win – 3/4 at Betfair
France v Ireland – 3rd February
The standout match from the first round of fixtures comes from the Stade de France in Saint-Denis as France lock horns with Ireland. You never know which French side will turn up, while the Irish are expected to push the English all the way this year. Ireland, who lifted the trophy in 2014 and 2015, are also odds-on to beat France on Saturday.
Les Bleus are a shadow of the team who dominated the Six Nations a decade or so ago. Nowadays, the likes of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are all fancied ahead of them. Nevertheless, the French had a pretty decent tournament last year, finishing third behind the English and the Irish. They head into this home match as the 2/1 underdogs, though.
If any nation can take England all the way this year, it’s without doubt the Irish. Ireland are the only country to have beaten England in the last two Six Nations, stopping Jones’ troops from winning the Grand Slam on the final day last year. Schmidt’s men should be far too strong for Brunel’s troops on Saturday, so check out Ladbrokes’ 5/6 for Ireland to be winning at half time and full time in the Stade de France.
Ireland to be Winning at Half Time and Full Time – 5/6 at Ladbrokes
Italy v England – 4th February
England, who have won the last two Six Nations Championships, are the hot favourites to come out on top again. They are also fancied to cruise to a big win in their opening fixture in the Olimpico in Rome on Sunday. The Italians, still managed by former Irish full-back Conor O’Shea, will be hoping to avoid the wooden spoon in 2018.
England have dominated the last couple of years under Eddie Jones, and they will certainly take some stopping this time around. With Ireland to come at Twickenham Stadium on the final weekend, the English will have their sights set on winning another Grand Slam this year.
Italy caused England one or two problems at Twickenham last year with their controversial tactics, but Jones and co. will be wiser to that this time around. The holders should thump Azzurri in Rome, and we like the look of Betfair’s evens for England to win with a -20 point handicap on Sunday afternoon.
England to Win -20 – Evens at Betfair