Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds On A 2023 Triple Crown Winner?

Daire Walsh

There are just two teams left standing after round one of the Six Nations Championship, but betting sites are nonetheless fascinated about the potential destination of the Triple Crown in 2023.

The winners of the prize in last year’s tournament, Ireland kick-started their quest to defend the Crown with a convincing 34-10 victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff last weekend.

Despite the return of their former head coach – and ex-Ireland supremo – Warren Gatland to the hot seat, the Welsh fell behind with less than two minutes gone on the clock and remained in arrears for the rest of the contest.

Leinster quartet Caelan Doris, James Ryan, James Lowe and Josh van der Flier all crossed the whitewash as Ireland delivered a strong statement of intent.

In addition to Wales being ruled out of the Crown equation, England’s challenge also came to an end when they lost to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup for the third year in succession at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

A brace of tries from Max Malins and a single effort by Ellis Genge had them in a strong position, but subsequent finishes courtesy of Ben White and Duhan van der Merwe helped the Scots to come away with a 29-23 bonus point win.

It is 33 years since they last secured a Triple Crown (which was, coincidentally, the last time a Grand Slam was in their possession), but Scotland are very much in the mix for one in 2023.

Question is, how do UK bookmakers view their chances of success?

Ireland Still Leading The Way In Triple Crown Betting

Regardless of how this weekend’s action unfolds, Ireland will still have a shot at the Crown going into round three of the tournament.

This is due to the fact that their opponents at the Aviva Stadium this weekend – France – aren’t part of the Triple Crown race.

Indeed, with a trip to Italy on the horizon when the Championship returns from a fallow period on February 25, it will be several weeks before we find out how well-equipped Ireland are to put together back-to-back Crowns for the first time since 2007.

Nonetheless – no doubt influenced by their current status as the number one ranked team in the world – Ireland are regarded as strong favourites to win this particular title once again.

At the present moment, the best betting sites for rugby union are offering odds of 4/6 on Ireland winning the Triple Crown for a 13th time.

Scotland In Crown Reckoning Following Opening Round Win

Unlike their Celtic counterparts, the Scots will have to win on the coming weekend to keep their Triple Crown dreams alive.

Having endured contrasting fortunes on the opening day of the tournament, Scotland and Wales will clash at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday.

Form might suggest this is a game that the Tartan Army should be targeting for another win, but that’s easier said than done.

After also opening their 2021 and 2022 campaigns with triumphs over arch-rivals England, Scotland were subsequently defeated by the Welsh a matter of days later.

While Wales went on to win the Six Nations in the wake of their 2021 clash, last year’s meeting of the two sides in Cardiff represented their only victory of the Championship.

There have been calls for Scotland to back up their latest success over England with a performance and result that is of a similar calibre, and there is certainly pressure on coach Gregor Townsend and his troops.

That said, their margin of defeat in those games was relatively small (one point in 2021 and three points in 2022) and you have to go back less than three years for Scotland’s last Six Nations triumph against Wales.

As such, William Hill are offering odds of 9/2 on Scotland bridging the sizeable gap to their last Crown victory in the coming weeks.

Possibility Of No One Picking Up The Crown In 2023

Yet at a time when there appears to be little to separate the top eight or nine teams in international rugby, the prospect of no Triple Crown winner emerging from the current Championship is being given due consideration by the best betting apps on the market.

While Ireland winning the Crown is still seen as the most likely scenario, there are odds of 5/2 available with Paddy Power on this piece of silverware being kept aside until the Championship returns again in 2024.

A level of inconsistency over recent seasons means bookmakers are hesitant to make Scotland clear second favourites in the betting for the Triple Crown.

However, another top-drawer performance against Wales this weekend could go some way to changing their minds – albeit Ireland may still be the frontrunners no matter what happens in Edinburgh.

Despite the odds on betting apps, The Scots will be wary of a Welsh team that are out to restore pride following a difficult 12 months since they last faced each other.

But with the Calcutta Cup already stored away, they will have their sights set on another addition to their roll of honours.