Six Nations Betting: Who Will Be The Top Try Scorer This Season?

Daire Walsh

Individual accolades may pale in comparison to team achievements for many, but being named top try-scorer in the Six Nations Championship remains a distinguished honour nonetheless.

With three games still to play, there are any number of players who may come out on top of this particular race and the best betting sites are offering interesting odds on the current frontrunners.

Gabin Villière Leading Try-Scoring Pack

Unsurprisingly – given he currently leads the way in the rankings – France’s Gabin Villière is the present favourite with the best betting sites for rugby union to trump all of his would-be competitors in the try stakes.

In Les Bleus’ opening round victory over Italy, the Toulon winger grabbed a hat-trick – including a stoppage-time effort in the first half.

Formerly a member of the French 7s set-up, he has made a blistering impact in the international 15s game over the past couple of years.

Despite only having nine caps to his name, he has already crossed the whitewash on no fewer than six occasions.

He was kept out by Ireland in their last outing at Stade de France and a facial injury sees him miss out on a place in the squad to play Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium this Saturday. But, he is expected to recover in time to play Wales on March 12.

He is currently rated at 6/4 with Paddy Power to emerge as top try-scorer in Six Nations. But, given his absence at the weekend, there may be value in looking elsewhere.

Andrew Conway And Mack Hansen Also In The Running

Of course, as a team that haven’t won a Six Nations game since 2015, Italy are more susceptible to conceding tries than any other outfit in the Championship. With Ireland being the latest side to face the Azzurri this Sunday, it makes sense that a couple of their stars are high up in the 2022 Six Nations betting top try scorer odds.

In their opening day success over Wales at the Aviva, Munster winger Andrew Conway grabbed a brace of tries to propel Andy Farrell’s men towards a bonus point triumph – keeping them in the chase for the Six Nations Triple Crown at the very least. Should he be selected again, Conway might well add to this total for the year.

The likes of Jordan Larmour and Robert Baloucoune will be vying for his position in a game that seems ripe for experimentation, but he won’t be giving up his 14 jersey without a fight. To date, Conway has recorded 15 tries in 29 senior appearances for Ireland and has twice come away from international fixtures with a hat-trick.

Regardless of whether or not he makes the cut this weekend, he will almost certainly see game time before the campaign is out. 888sport are currently offering 10/3 on him being crowned the top try-scorer in the Six Nations.

His back-three partner Mack Hansen has enjoyed a whirlwind introduction to the Irish squad this year and got off the mark in spectacular fashion during their 30-24 reversal to France last Saturday week. Gathering a Joey Carbery restart, he powered over the line in sensational style for his first international try.

Raised in Australia, Hansen qualifies for Ireland through his Cork-born mother and was named player of the match on his debut against Wales.

He is likely to hold off the claims of James Lowe for the time being and is valued at 8/1 with bet365 to be the Championship’s top try-scorer.

Rising Star Marcus Smith Firmly In The Reckoning

While he is also tied with France’s Melvyn Jaminet as the competition’s top points scorer, England’s new out-half Marcus Smith is showing there is more to his game than place-kicking.

He has registered a try apiece in his side’s matches to date against Scotland and Italy, and appears to have the attacking game to cause Wales problems at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday – even if the Grand Slam is now out of reach for the English.

Although just 23 years of age, Smith has 123 first-team appearances under his belt at Harlequins and doesn’t appear to be overawed by the big occasion.

He is squeezed in between Conway and Hansen in the market for top try-scorer, with odds of 11/2 available with UK bookmakers.

Penaud And George Are Dark Horses

Others to consider include Damian Penaud, who scored France’s final try in their 37-10 triumph over Italy.

Some of the best bookmakers are offering lower odds than Hansen (7/1) on him being the top try-scorer, though he will have to overtake his own team-mate Villière if he is to do so.

Due to how set-piece orientated some games can be, it comes as little surprise to see a hooker high up in the betting.

Jamie George grabbed a brace of tries in England’s 33-0 win over Italy and he is rated at 10/1 with William Hill to push forward for further scores in the coming weeks.

Graham And Van Der Merwe Outside Bets For Scotland

As enigmatic as they come, Scotland are capable of bouncing back from a disappointing defeat to Wales and produce some big results over the next three rounds to keep them in the hunt for the Six Nations Championship.

Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham crossed for the 11th time as a Scottish international against the Welsh and is rated at 14/1 with BetVictor – amongst others – to be the top try-scorer in the Six Nations.

He may still be looking for his first score in this year’s Championship, but 2021 top try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe will be looking to hit a rich vein of form in the remaining rounds.

He got two tries apiece against France and Italy in last year’s competition and with both of these sides on the horizon, the Scottish winger shouldn’t be dismissed lightly.

16/1 are the odds on offer for the South African-born 26-year-old, but a good performance away to the French on Saturday could change this very quickly.