Six Nations Championship: Week 2 predictions, odds and betting tips
The first week of the 2024 Six Nations Championship delivered in sensational style with an unexpected Irish mauling of the French in Marseille, Italy giving England a scare in Rome, and a pulsating clash between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff.
What can we expect this weekend?
The bookmakers are confident that Ireland are on their way to winning this year’s championship. Is it that straightforward however?
Let’s see how the bookies rate the teams, to win both the tournament and also in the second round of matches.
Here are the latest tournament odds fromBetway.
- Ireland 1/5
- England 13/2
- Scotland 10/1
- France 20/1
- Wales 100/1
- Italy 500/1
How do we judge Scotland's opening encounter? Do we congratulate them for building a 27-0 lead on Wales inside 45 minutes? Or ask questions of why in the following 35 minutes they conceded 26 points without answer and had to cling on for victory? Are they the attacking threat Finn Russell and Duhan Van Der Merwe demonstrated in that rampaging start or the ill-disciplined rabble who lost two players to the sin bin in the second half and conceded 14 consecutive penalties? And what of the French? It was expected that they would struggle without the brilliant Antoine Dupont but the Irish defeat was very poor. So many questions - who will provide the answers?
Here are the latest match odds for Scotland vs France from Betfred.
- Scotland: 8/5
- Draw: 20/1
- France: 4/7
As already mentioned, France clearly missed the brilliance of their scrum half and captain Dupont, but the confusion of their play suggests that the decimation of the coaching team in the aftermath of the World Cup has caused further problems. Against that, there are few more dangerous French sides than one hurt by defeat and stung by widespread criticism from fans and the media. If Scotland can withstand the French early in the match, however, the doubts will spread within Les Bleus. Russell and Van Der Merwe are significant, world class threats and Scotland have won three of the last four clashes with the French at Murrayfield. They can heap more misery on the visitors.
There have been many mixed messages in the aftermath of England’s defeat of Italy last weekend. Some ex-players have penned columns in praise of this new set of players. But it’s also hard to overlook that Italy grabbed an early lead, held onto it for a good portion of the match and England’s winning margin was their narrowest-ever against the Azzuri. Wales were also an enigma in the opening weekend: abject for 45 minutes and then pulsating for the next 35, albeit they pulled up just short of an improbable victory.
Here are the latest match odds for England vs Wales from Betfred.
- Italy: 8/1
- Draw: 40/1
- England: 1/14
There was plenty of bullish talk from the English squad and management ahead of the tournament that they would be furious in defence and, yet in round one, the Italians found their soft underbelly and England’s attack was also poor. They scored only two points for every entry to the 22 (against the weakest team in the competition) against Ireland’s 4.4 against the French. New coaching methods take time to bed in but it remains a concern for this week.
Wales have won in London just twice in the Six Nations era and have lost seven games in a row at Twickenham since winning there in the 2015 World Cup. But after that terrible start last week they were excellent in the second half and the change of fly half helped, as did an encouraging willingness to graft. Wales led the carries, metres carried, tackle success and attacking ruck arrival stats in week 1. England are right to be favourites but it could easily be closer than the books suggest and at the prices Wales are the pick.
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No side has ever won back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era and that knowledge has the potential to drive this Irish side. After the disappointment of the World Cup having a significant achievement in the cross hairs should do wonders for motivation. The arrival of the sensational Joe McCarthy helps because, as his team-mate Dan Sheehan, said: “He’s able to rip teams apart on his own.” Italy were good against England. Can they maintain that standard? They’ll need to because a return to the slapdash ways of their last two RWC games (when they conceded 22 tries) would be disastrous.
Here are the latest match odds for Ireland vs Italy from Betfred.
- Ireland: 1/150
- Draw: 33/1
- Italy: 16/1
As encouraged as the Italians will be by their opening effort they might also be a little terrified by the prospect of taking on the Irish in Dublin. The Irish were clinical in the backs, making more line breaks than any other team last weekend - and that was against the on-paper best opposition in the tournament. Ireland have to beware of complacency but they should put this game to bed easily enough. The last four times these teams have met in Dublin in the Six Nations the points total has exceeded 62 and it can do so again.
🏉 Total match points over 61.5 at5/6 with BoyleSports 🏉
- Location: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Date and Time: Saturday February 10th, 14:15
- How to watch: BBC, Virgin Media
- Location: Twickenham, England
- Date and Time: Saturday February 10th, 16:45
- How to watch: ITV, S4C, RTÉ
- Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Date and Time: Sunday February 11th, 15:00
- How to watch: ITV, Virgin Media
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