After both making winning starts to the Six Nations, Saturday’s round two showdown between France and Ireland has already been billed as a potential Grand Slam decider.
However, the news the Irish will be without captain Johnny Sexton has handed the advantage to Les Bleus, and they will be confident of taking it.
Elsewhere, Scotland will be aiming for a first Cardiff win since 2002, while England need a performance when they head to Rome on Sunday.
Can Carbery Step Up?
Sexton’s absence provides Joey Carbery with his first Six Nations start, and his duel against Romain Ntamack could define Saturday’s 16:45 game.
Both like to run the ball, suggesting it could be an open affair and with the two teams having combined for 62 points in their last meeting at the Stade de France in 2020, over 48.5 points is 43/20.
France were the 35-27 victors on that day and backed it up last year in Dublin by triumphing 15-13. Damian Penaud scored the decisive try at the Aviva Stadium and is 17/10 in the anytime market.
Another France win is 20/41, but they will need to step up after some sluggish moments in their opening 37-10 win over Italy.
Ireland were impressive throughout their 29-7 success over Wales, but Sexton’s absence is reflected in them being the 33/20 outsiders heading to Paris.
The skipper’s injury is a blow, but Carbery is a fabulous player when he gets going and will look to move the big French back around.
Les Bleus have gone with a six-two split on the bench, suggesting they are expecting an open game, and the hosts should have enough to maintain their hopes of a first Grand Slam since 2010 by coming through what is likely to be an enthralling encounter.
Scots Have History in Their Sights
Just like last year, Scotland made a winning start to the Six Nations by defeating England 20-17 in the Calcutta Cup. With the fixtures flipping over, they again take on Wales in their second match of the campaign and head to Cardiff, looking to end a miserable run at the Principality Stadium.
Coach Gregor Townsend was in the last Scottish side to win in Cardiff in the 2002 Six Nations and will be buoyed by leading them to victory in Llanelli in 2020.
With Wales missing big names such as captain Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau and George North, they look to be up against it, and that is reflected in them being 6/5 in the match market for Saturday’s 14:15 game.
Wayne Pivac’s men did upset the odds to win 25-24 at Murrayfield last year, Louis Rees-Zammit scoring a brace of tries, and he is 17/10 to go over at any time in the match.
Having the Gloucester flyer around gives Wales a chance, but the way the Scots took their opportunities against England suggests they should be good enough to beat the -2.5 Handicap at 5/6.
Townsend has made five changes for the match, and his willingness to shuffle the pack suggests he has every confidence that his squad can get the job done.
Rome Respite for England
England were the better side for much of the game at Murrayfield, leading 17-10 at one stage, but failed to see the match out due to a combination of individual errors and questionable use of their bench.
Sunday sees them take on Italy at 15:00, and Eddie Jones and his side need a performance. Fortunately, they are playing a team without a Six Nations win since 2015.
The Azzurri were again plucky but unsuccessful in Paris and will be aware that they have never beaten England, the Red Rose triumphing on all 28 occasions these two have met.
Their last three trips to Rome have seen England win by an average of 30.33 points, and that brings the -24.5 handicap into play at 20/23.
Jones may have made eight changes to his starting XV for Sunday, but the outcome is likely to be the same.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
