Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds On The 2023 Championship Winner?
The third round of the Six Nations is fast approaching and betting sites are continuing to examine who are the most likely team to come away with the Championship title.
The current holders of the Triple Crown and four-time winners of the tournament since it became the Six Nations in 2000, Ireland are at the summit of the table as a result of back-to-back bonus point triumphs over Wales and France.
Marginally trailing them on score difference are Scotland, who have secured a maximum return in their opening two games against England and Wales.
Despite coming into the tournament with a brand-new head coach in Steve Borthwick, England are third in the Six Nations and certainly still within reach of silverware for 2023.
Grand Slam champions last year, France are fourth in the overall standings, though there is an expectation that Les Bleus will eventually shoot up the table.
Italy and Wales have both lost their opening two games in the Championship, but the losing bonus point that the Italians accrued in a 29-24 reversal against France in Rome means they are just above the Welsh coming into this weekend’s games.
It is around this time in a given Six Nations campaign that teams will start to flex their muscles and this year’s edition of the tournament doesn’t look like being any different.
Ireland Remain Six Nations Championship Favourites
Interestingly, the present order of merit in the Championship table chimes significantly with the current status that has been provided in the odds markets.
In addition to being table-toppers in the Six Nations, Ireland are the number one ranked team in world rugby.
The Stadio Olimpico is their next port of call in this year’s tournament and Ireland are odds-on to continue on an upward trajectory against an Italian side who will be looking to bridge a 10-year gap to their last win over the Green Army.
2018 was the last time that Ireland finished on top of the pile in the Six Nations, but the best betting sites for rugby union are giving odds of 1/4 on them doing so this year.
Scotland Very Much In Contention For The Title
Even though they are one of just two teams (Italian being the other) who haven’t gotten their hands on the Six Nations, Scotland are second favourites behind Ireland in the race for the title in 2023 and are still very much in the hunt for the Triple Crown.
The shortest odds available on the Scots claiming their first Championship crown since 1999 – when it was under the guise of the Five Nations – are set at 15/4.
However, the most common value being placed on Gregor Townsend’s charges reaching the promised land is 4/1 – which you’ll find at 10Bet.
England Not Out Of The Running Just Yet
The most successful team in the roll of honours, England trail behind Ireland and Scotland in the betting for this year’s Six Nations, but are not necessarily being ruled out of the equation.
The English are seen as a 25/1 probability with William Hill on Borthwick’s troops leaving aside their opening round defeat to Scotland and push on from their position at the moment to claim championship glory.
At the time of writing, there was still some doubt as to whether the England game against Wales is going to go ahead in Cardiff on Saturday.
Given the issues that their opponents have had to deal with in recent days, England will be expected to come out on top – and thus bolster their title prospects – if it does take place as planned.
France Up Against It, Despite Being The Reigning Champions
It might seem strange given their clean sweep of honours last year, but a mixed start to this year’s Six Nations sees France as fourth favourites for the Championship heading into the final three rounds.
Their long winning streak was brought to an end by Ireland in Dublin on February 11, and they will be hoping that home comforts can work to their advantage when a high-flying Scotland pays a visit to Stade de France this coming Sunday.
While it is entirely plausible that Les Bleus could still pull off another Championship success, 15 UK bookmakers – including Bet365 – are offering odds of 25/1 on the French finishing 2023 on the Six Nations summit.
Wales Have Suffered A Significant Drop-Off
It seems extraordinary given they were Six Nations champions in 2019 and 2021 – winning a Grand Slam in the former year – but Wales’ current predicament has them as rank outsiders for a Championship tilt.
It is entirely possible they could be completely out of the running by the end of this weekend, though this is probably the least of the WRU’s problems at the moment.
The majority of betting apps have them at 500/1 for a Six Nations triumph with William Hill going even further by rating them as a 1,000/1 prospect.
Italy Rank Outsiders Along With The Welsh
Although Italy are behind Wales in the pecking order when it comes to betting, despite being a point ahead of the Welsh in the Championship table, it is only a small gap that separates them.
888sport are offering 500/1 on Wales, but have gone even longer on an Italian Six Nations success with odds of 750/1.
There have been several green shoots with the Azzurri over the past 12 months, but it will be some time yet before they establish themselves as Championship contenders.