Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds On A 2023 Triple Crown Winner?
Daire Walsh
Heading into the third round of the Six Nations Championship, two teams remain in the reckoning for a Triple Crown in 2023 and this has aroused the curiosity of betting sites.
Having comfortably disposed of the challenge posed by Wales on the opening day of the tournament – their first victory in Cardiff for all of 10 years – Ireland found themselves in the frame for a clean sweep of silverware.
While their second round encounter with France wasn’t a Triple Crown contest, the quality displayed by Andy Farrell’s men in a 32-19 triumph over Les Bleus helped to bolster their credentials in the race for this title nonetheless.
After defeating England for a third year in succession on day one of the Championship, there was pressure on Scotland to show this wasn’t another flash in the pan.
Wales had gotten the better of Gregor Townsend’s men in both the 2021 and 2022 Six Nations, but the Scots had far too much for their underperforming Celtic counterparts with four second half tries guiding them towards a deserved 35-7 win.
Given Ireland are facing Italy in Rome this weekend and Scotland will make a trip to defending Six Nations champions France in Saint-Denis, both teams will remain in the hunt for the Triple Crown until their meeting at the Aviva Stadium on March 12.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how Ireland and Scotland are in the betting for the Crown as the Championship returns from the first of two fallow weeks.
Ireland Remain Favourites For The Triple Crown
As the winners of this prize in 2022, it is perhaps unsurprising that the Irish remain the favourites to do so again this year.
The fact they are the number one ranked team in world rugby (and have just defeated the number two international side) also comes into the equation in a significant way.
With the best betting sites for rugby union Ireland are rated at 8/13 to come away with their third Triple Crown in six years.
When you consider Ireland gained maximum points from the opening two games despite having to deal with a number of injuries, it is easy to see why they are being so heavily backed.
There was a further set-back in the past week with the news that the influential Tadhg Beirne will miss the remainder of the Championship, but Farrell isn’t short of options when it comes to replacements for the second-row/back-row hybrid.
Of course, Ireland has a bit more work to do in comparison to Scotland when it comes to the race for Triple Crown glory.
Whereas the Scots have already faced England and Wales, the Green Army will have to take on the English on the final weekend of the Championship.
Scots Also In the Running For The Crown
By then, Scotland will know if their latest bid for a first Triple Crown since 1990 – and the first of the Six Nations era – has been successful.
The not inconsiderable duo of England and Wales have already been accounted for, but Ireland will pose another stern test next month.
The result and performance in this weekend’s game at Stade de France will give us an indication of the Scottish morale going into that fourth round showdown, though it is more than likely they will maintain their status as second favourites for the Triple Crown.
The Scots are at 11/4 with Bet365 to claim the honour and it has been said for quite a few years that this is the best Scottish squad for quite a while.
With just score difference having them second behind Ireland in the Championship table, they are doing their best to live up to this tag.
Indeed, it is a very small margin that separates them at the moment with a +37 points difference allowing the Irish to edge out Scotland’s +34.
Remains A Possibility That There Will Be No Crown Handed Out
While the consensus is that a Triple Crown winner will emerge in 2023, it is only right to examine the possibility of neither Ireland or the Scots coming through in this regard.
Although BetVictor are offering odds of 3/1 on no Crown being handed out this year, most other bookies are going for a slightly longer price.
BoyleSports are amongst a group of UK bookmakers to place a value of 5/1 on the Triple Crown remaining idle until this time next year.
Reverse Of 2017 Six Nations Finale Could Happen This Year
You have to go back to 2017 for the last time there was no Triple Crown winner in the Six Nations.
On that occasion, Ireland denied England a second successive Grand Slam on the final weekend of the Championship.
Should their game against Scotland (and this weekend’s clash with Italy) go the way betting apps expect it too, then Steve Borthwick’s men will be the only ones standing in the way of their quest for full honours in 2023.