Six Nations Championship Betting:The ever-increasing variety to betting in the Six Nations - Paddy Power are laying odds as to how many matches Jonny Wilkinson will start in the forthcoming campaign - is just as well, because there doesn't appear to be much temptation in the betting for the championship itself.
Given there have been a historically high spate of Grand Slams, four in a row before last season and 10 in the last 16 years, the odds on there being no winner at 8/11 doesn't reflect this trend. Perhaps the odds on Slams being achieved have decreased because games are much higher scoring affairs, with less likelihood of a draw (there have only been two out of the 105 games since Italy's inclusion in 2000).
Alas, the odds on Ireland achieving a first Slam in 59 years appear meagre at 3/1, and likewise the 13/8 top price with Paddy Power to win a first title since 1985. Alas, that boat has sailed, notably when Ireland were available at 8/1 to win the title at the conclusion of the 2006 championship last March, or even the 4/1 that was around before the November tests.
England are this season's proverbial dark horses. Enjoying the feel-good factor of a new head coach, the improved showing of their clubs in Europe, a remodelled and much more balanced looking team, and with Scotland and Italy first up at Twickenham to generate momentum, they look well priced at 4/1 by Boyle Sports to win the title.
Gambling on the leading try scorer is probably not worth risking the mortgage on, although there are plenty of long odds to tempt punters given the bookies pay out one-quarter the odds for an each-way bet on a top-four finish. Last season, Shane Horgan and Mirco Bergamasco were the joint leading try scorers with just three tries apiece. As this was the second Six Nations campaign in which the Italian centre scored three tries, the 80/1 available about him looks good value.
Brian O'Driscoll is the shortest priced Irish player from 9/1 to 12/1, and indeed favourite to be Ireland's leading try scorer at 3/1 or 7/2. But again, given he is so heavily marked and didn't score one try in last season's championship, this does not look particularly tempting. Denis Hickie, one try behind O'Driscoll's Irish record of 28, looks better value at a top price of 11/2 with Boyle Sports and at 33/1 to lead the championship charts with Ladbrokes. The latter firm also have Clement Poitrenaud at a generous 50/1.
Cross-doubles and trebles on the handicap and/or match betting are popular among punters and this weekend the bookies are fairly uniform in their odds, with France and England around 14-point favourites, and Ireland three or four-point favourites to win in Cardiff.
France would have covered this handicap in each of the last five meetings with Italy. Strictly on November form and on lines through Australia and the Pacific Islands, punters are entitled to believe Ireland can not only beat Wales, but also the handicap.
