Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds On The 2022 Championship Winner?
There may be only two rounds played in the competition, but a clear favourite has already emerged in the race for a Six Nations Championship title.
Having examined the action thus far, the best betting sites are in general agreement as to who they think is best placed to be crowned champions when the games in European rugby’s principle international showcase reaches its conclusion on March 19.
France Favourites To Claim The Six Nations Championship
Whereas in previous seasons there were at least a couple of contenders for a Grand Slam moving towards the business end of the Championship, only one team is still in contention for a clean sweep of honours with three games still to play.
Following back-to-back wins at the expense of Italy and Ireland on home soil, France are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Six Nations.
Their resolve was tested much more rigorously by the latter at Stade de France on Saturday, but Fabien Galthié’s side still managed to get the job done. Despite the concession of an exquisite try to new Ireland winger Mack Hansen, Les Bleus had built up a 22-7 lead thanks in no small part to 17 points from the boot of their full-back Melvyn Jaminet.
They were subsequently rocked by converted Irish scores from Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park before a Cyril Baille five-pointer put them back in the driving seat. In the end, France did enough to come away with the spoils – in spite of a committed effort from their opponents.
While the pre-tournament favourites haven’t been perfect to date, they sit at the summit of the Championship table ahead of their away assignment against Scotland on February 26.
As it stands, they are 4/7 with the best betting sites for rugby union – to secure a first Six Nations Championship since 2010.
Ireland Still Second Favourites For The Six Nations
Although there was a clear disappointment at losing out to France, Ireland are second in the pecking order amongst UK bookmakers.
William Hill are offering 7/2 on them to win a first Six Nations under the stewardship of Andy Farrell.
The Green Army are expected to get their campaign back on track when they welcome Italy to Dublin on February 27.
France have made a habit of losing some tight games in recent years and with some tricky fixtures still to come from them, there could be plenty of twists and turns on the way.
England Could Yet Have A Say In Six Nations Race
They may be well off their imperious best at the moment, but England will hope Sunday’s comfortable 33-0 success over Italy in Rome can help to reignite their season.
The majority of betting sites have them priced at 5/1, while Ladbrokes are valuing them at 11/2.
Scotland Pip Wales In Six Nations Rankings
Despite having their number at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff at the weekend, Wales are still well behind Celtic rivals Scotland in the minds of the best bookmakers when it comes to potentially grabbing a Six Nations title.
The Scots – who defeated England in the opening round of the competition – are available at 22/1 with Paddy Power. Wales, on the other hand, are rated as 45/1 outsiders by Unibet for the Championship.
The fact that their next game is a visit to Twickenham Stadium for a grudge match with England might have a considerable amount to do with this.
Italy Realistically Out Of The Running
As far as Italy are concerned, the odds being offered for them to pull off a miraculous Championship triumph make for rather bleak reading.
2022 Six Nations betting odds have them at 2,500/1 for the Six Nations and that is one of the more conservative bets you could place.
French Grand Slam Could Be In The Pipeline
Meanwhile, the prospect of a French Grand Slam is beginning to gather pace with the best online betting sites for rugby all seeing them as a 6/4 possibility for this honour.
Nonetheless, it is early days in the competition and given France have lacked consistency for so long, it is unsurprising to see odds of 8/15 on there being no Grand Slam.
Ireland The Only Hope For A Triple Crown
Whereas France are now the only team capable of winning a Slam, the same is true of Ireland when it comes to a Triple Crown.
It is almost a month before their second of three games against another one team who compete for the prize – an away meeting with England on March 12, to be exact – but the loss to an in-form team like France doesn’t necessarily indicate that their campaign is about to unravel.
888sport have them at 5/4 to overcome the forthcoming challenges against the English and Scotland to become Crown champions for just the second time since 2009. Conversely, no Triple Crown winner in 2022 is an 8/13 prospect.
Gabin Villiere Leading Six Nations Top Try-Scorer Race
Gabin Villiere leads the way at the moment thanks to his hat-trick in an opening round victory over Italy and the French winger is rated as an 6/4 bet to be the top try-scorer in the Six Nations.
Just behind him is Ireland’s Andrew Conway at 4/1, England’s Marcus Smith (6/1) and Villiere’s team-mate Damian Penaud at 7/1.
Last year’s top try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe (16/1) is yet to open his account for 2022, but there is possibility of him hitting a vein of form in the final three rounds.