France target Six Nations Grand Slam ahead of World Cup glory
Published:The last time the Six Nations was held in a World Cup year France ended the tournament as champions and the enigmatic French are 9/4 to win the 2011 Six Nations.
France consequently crashed out of the World Cup to England in the semi-finals, but coach Marc Lievremont believes a Grand Slam win would set his side up for a strong World Cup performance and France are 38/1 to complete a Six Nations and World Cup double.
Lievremont’s side are the reigning Six Nations and Grand Slam champions and after an autumn international campaign that failed to produce a stand-out Northern Hemisphere team, the 11/2 for France to repeat their 2010 Grand Slam heroics looks a strong bet.
Two-thirds of the side that won the Grand Slam last year will line-up to face Scotland at the Stade de France on Saturday for a game the French are 1/10 to win, but Lievremont’s tinkering reveals some strange position changes.
Maxime Medard has been shifted from full-back to the left wing and as a result, his top tryscorer odds have been slashed into 10/1 from 20/1.
Vincent Clerc has been dropped and his place has been filled by Yoann Huget, while Damien Traille has been shifted to full back with Aurelien Rougerie handed the outside centre jersey.
There is no place for Yannick Jauzion in the match-day 22 who makes way for Perpignan star Maxime Mermoz at inside centre.
The forward eight remains the same pack that provided the foundations for France’s 2010 Grand Slam, and the half-backs also remain unchanged with Morgan Parra 3/1 to be the tournament’s top points scorer.
Scotland are 11/2 to beat France but haven’t done so in Paris since 1999, and this exciting French back line has the finesse to rack up a number of tries against the Scots.
A £25 stake on France winning the Six Nations/Grand Slam double would return £975. New customers can sign up here for a free bet worth £25.
