Six Nations betting tips: Lawes return a big boost for England in Wales showdown
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Home comfort for England against Wales in Six Nations betting tips
The Six Nations returns this weekend when tournament favourites France get the ball rolling on Saturday with a tough trip to Scotland.
England ran out comfortable winners against Italy in their last outing, but should expect a much tougher test against Wales, who beat Scotland two weeks ago and are 11/2 to win at Twickenham.
Ireland wrap up the weekend on Sunday against whipping boys Italy, so let’s look at all three matches in our Six Nations betting tips.
Scotland v France (Sat, BBC, 14.15)
France are the only team to have won both games, but this is their first away match and they have not won in Edinburgh since 2014 in the Six Nations.
Les Bleus, 1/2 in the Six Nations odds to win the tournament for the first time in 12 years, have lost four of their last five meetings with Scotland, who won in an empty Stade de France stadium last year.
Gregor Townsend’s side are 9/4 to cause an upset and the head coach knows “it’s our last opportunity” to win the tournament having lost 20-17 to Wales last time out, a week after beating England by the same scoreline.
“It’s probably up there with playing South Africa in November,” he said, referencing the autumn defeat by the world champions.
“They’re one of the top two or three teams in the world right now. They’ve got a huge pack, momentum behind them, results behind them, so it’s a great challenge for us.”
“It’s one of the biggest challenges you get in world rugby.”
Head Coach Gregor Townsend reflects on his team selection and opponents France ahead of Saturday’s return to BT Murrayfield.#AsOne
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 24, 2022
Glasgow flanker Rory Darge will make his first start for Scotland as one of three changes to the XV from the defeat in Cardiff.
France have made just one change to the team that defeated Ireland, with Stade Francais centre Jonathan Denty replacing Gabin Villiere, who has a fractured sinus.
Scotland beat Australia in the Autumn Nations Series, but France, led by world player of the year Antoine Dupont, are a cut above and an away win by between 1-10 points at 9/5 kicks off our Six Nations betting tips.
England v Wales (Sat, ITV, 16.45)
England are the hot 1/7 favourites to come out on top against a Welsh side that bounced back from an opening-day hammering by Ireland with a close victory over Scotland a fortnight ago.
Head coach Eddie Jones has been hit by the loss of Manu Tuilagi, who had been due to make his first start in the competition in almost two years only to be ruled out on Thursday with a “low grade issue”.
Joe Marchant has been recalled, but an updated team will be announced on Saturday, although Courtney Lawes replaces Tom Curry as captain after a month out with concussion.
Squad update | Manu Tuilagi is out of this weekend's match against Wales.
Joe Marchant has been recalled and will train with the squad tomorrow.
An updated team will be confirmed on match day.#ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/GB5fLOwKCy
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 24, 2022
Harry Randall is preferred to Ben Youngs at scrum-half once again having impressed in the five-try victory over Italy.
Jones said: “We want to put some pace in the game early. We feel like there will be opportunities against Wales early in the game and Harry each week has been in increasingly better form.”
Wales have lost the last four Six Nations games at Twickenham, but they crushed England 40-24 at the Millennium Stadium last season.
• Team Announcement •
Here's your Wales squad to face England at Twickenham in the third round of the #GuinnessSixNations.
➥Diwrnod arbennig i Alex Cuthbert yn cael ei 50fed cap a dychweliad Taulupe Faletau yn Rhif 8 yn Twickenham.#ENGvWAL
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 24, 2022
Coach Wayne Pivac has surprisingly dropped wing Louis Rees-Zammit for Saturday’s game in favour of Josh Adams, with Alex Cuthbert retained on the other side.
Number eight Taulupe Faletau has also been recalled and makes his first Wales appearance in 11 months having proved his fitness in Bath’s last two matches following a long-term ankle injury.
The last three matches at Twickenham have been very close and so England to win by between 1-10 points for a fourth successive time at 21/10 is the next of our Six Nations betting tips
Ireland v Italy (Sun, ITV, 15.00)
Italy head to Dublin as rank 40/1 outsiders having last won a Six Nations game against Scotland seven years ago.
Joey Carbery starts at fly-half despite the return of veteran Johnny Sexton, who missed the 30-24 defeat by France two weeks ago with a minor hamstring issue.
However, lock Iain Henderson has been ruled out of the game after testing positive for coronavirus, but that should make little difference to the outcome at the Aviva Stadium.
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 🔛
The Ireland squad were hard at work this morning as prep continues for Sunday's Round 3 showdown against Italy at @avivastadium! 👊
Full Training Gallery: https://t.co/4w4Y7YW1AA#TeamOfUs | #IREvITA pic.twitter.com/ne6pSC9OuK
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 24, 2022
The Italians put up early resistance against France in their opener before going down 37-10 in Paris, but they were whitewashed by England in a 33-0 defeat in Rome a week later.
That said, Italy to win with a 39-point start at evens wraps up our Six Nations predictions.
The Azzurri have lost the last three matches against Ireland in this competition by fewer points and although it will be close to that mark, the early spirit they showed against Les Bleus should help to keep the score down.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
