Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds Of A Grand Slam In 2022?
Daire Walsh
It has been eagerly anticipated by rugby supporters right across Europe since the Autumn Nations Series reached its conclusion on November 25 of last year and thankfully the Six Nations Championship is right on the horizon once again.
The best betting sites for rugby union have been keeping a keen eye on how each nation is evolving and with the World Cup in France a little over 18 months away, there is added intrigue to what promises to be one of the most exciting editions of the tournament in recent memory.
Just like in 2021, Wales will kick-start their campaign against Celtic rivals Ireland on Saturday, February 5 – only on this occasion the defending champions will be facing a trip to Dublin instead of welcoming Andy Farrell’s side to their backyard in Cardiff.
Scotland and England will be clashing for points as well as Calcutta Cup bragging rights at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on the same day, whereas France will welcome Italy to Saint-Denis on Sunday, February 6.
The Six Nations Grand Slam Doesn’t Happen Often
While Wales won last year’s Championship without the added bonus of a Grand Slam, they remain the most recent team to have achieved the latter.
2019 was Warren Gatland’s swan song as Welsh head coach and he signed off with a spectacular clean sweep of Six Nations honours.
Grand Slams are proving to be as rare as hen’s teeth however, with just four teams managing this feat in the past 11 seasons. Indeed, as evidenced by the odds currently being offered up by Paddy Power (4/5), the prospect of no Slam winner in 2022 is rated as the most likely outcome.
Nevertheless, it is worth exploring the odds that are being offered on each side putting together a run of five successive victories and how likely this eventuality is.
France The Favourites To Land The Grand Slam
They may not have won a Six Nations or a Grand Slam since 2010, but that hasn’t stopped France being hailed as 10/3 favourites before the Six Nations fixtures kick-off to claim both honours in 2022.
While their results can often be erratic, there is no denying that there is quality throughout this French side with their newly-appointed captain Antoine Dupont rated as one of the world’s best scrum-halves.
It might just be the time for France to finally climb the top of the Six Nations ladder again, but they are expected to encounter stubborn resistance along the way.
Very Little Between England And Ireland In Grand Slam Betting
Arguably being the in-form team coming into the tournament – a November win over New Zealand caught the eye throughout the northern and southern hemispheres – tricky assignments against France and England sees Ireland being listed as third favourites to win a Grand Slam.
However, it is an extremely marginal call between themselves and England as the second favourites.
Some UK bookmakers have both teams locked together in the Grand Slam odds on their Six Nations betting sections and their showdown at Twickenham Stadium on March 12 could have a major bearing on how the Championship pans out.
Following an underwhelming fifth-place finish in the 2021 Six Nations, Eddie Jones’ men will be hell-bent on restoring pride this time around and with the supremely talented Marcus Smith on board for his first spring campaign, you can expect a much-improved showing from the Red Rose.
That’s maybe why William Hill have them just ahead of Ireland at 7/1 to claim the Grand Slam.
Although he is fast approaching his 37th birthday, Jonathan Sexton remains the driving force behind the Irish challenge and their current run of eight wins on the bounce makes them a force to be reckoned with, and possibly sneaky value at 8/1.
Wales Face A Tough Task To Claim A Grand Slam
Despite being moments away from claiming a fifth Six Nations Grand Slam last March, Wales are regarded as outsiders with the best betting sites offering odds as high as 50/1 on them being the all-conquering force in this year’s Championship.
However, when you dig below the surface, it is perhaps understandable why they aren’t favoured to make a big splash in the spring of 2022.
Including their talismanic skipper Alun Wyn Jones, veteran hooker Ken Owens and dead-ball specialist Leigh Halfpenny, Wales will be missing 13 players through injury for the beginning of the tournament.
While they can never be discounted, the absence of these experienced heads means a Grand Slam is likely to be a tall order.
Scotland And Italy Grand Slam Odds Reflect Their Chances
Although some bookmakers are offering odds of 33/1 on Scotland claiming a maiden Six Nations Slam, they are also ranked at 66/1 by most other online betting sites.
They come into this tournament on the back of a very encouraging 2021 Six Nations, where away victories over arch-rivals England and France helped them to finish just five points adrift of champions Wales and a single point behind runners-up France.
They will have to do it the hard way this time around as well, with three of their five games taking place away from home.
Gregor Townsend’s charges were also undoubtedly helped by the absence of spectators in Twickenham and Stade de France last year. With supporters now expected to pass through turnstiles in their droves, it becomes an even greater challenge for Scotland.
It is coming up on seven years since Italy last won a game in the Six Nations, an away success over Scotland on February 28, 2015.
As a result, it is no surprise to see them being rated as high as 2,000/1 in the 2022 Six Nations betting odds to claim a Grand Slam.