Can France enhance their Grand Slam hopes by ending their Scotland hoodoo? Will England recover from their rollercoaster week? And, can Joey Carbery continue to impress in the Ireland number 10 shirt?
No More Murrayfield Misery for Les Bleus
Scotland have been France’s bogey team in recent years. Not only did they triumph in Paris in 2021, but they have also won the pair’s last three Six Nations meetings at Murrayfield, as well as a 2019 World Cup warm-up clash in Edinburgh.
Les Bleus did triumph in EH12 during the one-off Autumn Nations Cup but the psychological scars of their previous Murrayfield misery in the Six Nations need to be overcome.
Fabien Galthie’s men have so far proved too good for Italy and Ireland and are 29/20 to seal their first Grand Slam since 2010.
𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝, Édimbourg. #ECOFRA #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/awrZF8OhoN
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 25, 2022
They are 10/11 carrying a -7.5 handicap but they face a side who have seen just three points separate their two Six Nations matches in 2022. Both have finished 20-17, a win over England and a defeat in Wales, results that will have caused Gregor Townsend delight and despair in equal measure.
Scotland are handily priced at 9/4 to make it four successive home wins against the French in this competition in the 14:15 game but there seems to be more steel about Galthie’s men than in past years.
No player demonstrates that more than number eight Gregory Aldritt, who has Scottish roots on his paternal side. However, the 24-year-old’s strength all around the park has seen him become the embodiment of the big blue French machine and with two of his three international tries coming against the Scots, is 5/2 to score a try and anytime.
England Continue Without Tuilagi
Like Scotland, England and Wales both have a win and a defeat apiece in the Six Nations and clash at Twickenham in Saturday’s 16:45 game.
The Red Rose hoped to have Manu Tuilagi fit for the game but having been named in the initial XV, was soon withdrawn after suffering another hamstring injury.
Tuilagi was expected to provide the midfield punch Eddie Jones’ side have missed so far in the tournament and the Australian is
still to announce whether Elliot Daly or Joe Marchant will come into a midfield that might need reshuffling.
Jones may be wondering if it is time to move on without the unfortunate Sale star and Marchant might be the man, having played on the wing and outside centre in this competition, to make the number 12 shirt his own in Owen Farrell’s absence.
Wales boss Wayne Pivac will have breathed a huge sign of relief when the news of Tuilagi’s injury was confirmed but will be aware that his team has not won at Twickenham in the Six Nations since 2012.
The reigning champions are 9/2 to break that run and while they welcome back Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau, a plethora of injuries means they are still without over 500 caps worth of talent.
England have been given a -14.5 handicap at 10/11 and while they flourished in the 33-0 win in Rome, they lacked any cutting edge in the 20-17 defeat to Scotland.
Instead, it might be worth looking at the try markets and having touched down in both of his country’s games so far, England fly-half Marcus Smith is 11/5 to grab a try at anytime, in what will be his first Six Nations outing at Twickenham.
Can Carbery deliver for Ireland?
Ireland and Italy round off the weekend on Sunday at 15:00 and while injuries have forced his hand, Andy Farrell has also rotated his squad.
Joey Carbery was always likely to start at fly-half against the Azzurri and with Johnny Sexton back on the bench, needs to kick on from his composed display last time out in Paris.
The Munster number 10 impressed with the limited ball he received against the French but now needs to get his side on the front foot and show he can dominate a game, albeit against a poor Italy team who have lost their last 34 in the competition.
Murray starts the move, Murray finishes it!
Throwing it back to our 2018 #GuinnessSixNations win over Italy and a beautifully worked try at @avivastadium
#TeamOfUs | #IREvITA pic.twitter.com/DygDg4Pm7R
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 24, 2022
Defeats to France and England have set the Azzurri on the way to a 17th Wooden Spoon and their price of 13/1 for a first Dublin win is telling.
Ireland are 25/28 when given a -39.5 handicap and if Carbery can set the tone early by getting the Italian pack playing in areas they don’t want to be in, Farrell’s side could run riot.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
