Ireland travel to Italy as the 1/6 favourites, and should complete a massacre for the bookies. France and Wales weren’t exactly comfortable yesterday, but they obliged as the first 2 legs of the 4/9 treble.

Ladbrokes took at €20,000 bet on Wales for yesterday’s match and have been forced to cut Ireland into 1/9.

They were impressive in finally beating the French (30-21) and have never lost at the Stadio Flaminio – bad news for 7/1 Italy.

Declan Kidney will be fielding the same team, with Paddy Wallace at centre.

Mauro Bergamasco has a terrible game at Scrum Half at Twickenham, and will be playing in the 3rd line. Nick Mallet has reported the team to be working well this week, so I could be confident in backing Ireland with the -13.5 handicap.

The First Tryscorer market is difficult to get involved in, but Tommy Bowe is the 10/1 favourite with Skybet and should get involved. Alternatively you could back no tries at 33/1! The bookies are expecting plenty of points, but at 5/6 I’d be below the 42.5 line.

William Hill go 4/1 that the Irish get off to a great start, scoring a try as the first scoring play. An Italian penalty would be an exciting bet at 2/1 though.

For those readers who backed Ireland at 7/2 before the France match, I can’t see any reason to have a bet today. It’s a bit of a shame that we didn’t back Ireland at 11/1 for the Grand Slam, because it would’ve been a great trading bet ahead of the Wales match on the 21st March.

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Italy v Ireland Match Betting

Italy v Ireland Handicap Betting

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Like all big betting events, it makes sense to start with the favourites. Should we be backing 2/1 Wales, or be looking to take them on?

Last year’s winners Wales have been backed from 5/2 into 2/1, and are 6/1 for the Grand Slam. They may not have the best team on paper, but confidence will be brimming with the solid club performances of both the Ospreys and the Blues.

Ladbrokes are ducking the favourites by only offering 7/4, but I’d be looking to take them on, maybe as early as this Sunday. They are 1/2 for their away trip to Scotland, but I’d would opt for the home side on the handicap (+6) for value’s sake.

England aren’t of interest, even at 9/2. Then got trounced in the autumn internationals, but that was hardly surprising. Martin Johnson’s side haven’t had the best press, and brave selections such as Andy Goode are already being questioned before the tournament. They also have a difficult schedule, but expect them to make light work of Italy at 1/7.

In the outright winner market, I am caught up between France and Ireland – both 7/2. We’ll know more about the 2 sides after he clash in Saturday’s Croke Park fixture, but by then one of the 2 sides could be the new favourite.

French clubs have given a terrible showing in the Heineken Cup, but the international side are more than capable of pulling this off. Having been 4th in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, they have slipped down the world rankings to 7th. If they are well organised and if Lionel Beauxis is kicking well, 11/8 to beat Ireland will look lke a massive price.

French coach Marc Lièvremont is focused on the 2011 World Cup, meaning that I shall side with 7/2 IRELAND. If they win the match against France, they wil grow in confidence and give Wales a run for their money. Declan Kidney is a great tactician, who will be relying on his Munster pack and Brian O’Driscoll.

They beat Argentina 17-3 last November and are a fit team; so could be worth an in-running investment should they find themselves trailing in a match. Their recent away record is concerning, especially as they travel to both Scotland and Wales.

Italy are the 4/7 favourites for the wooden spoon.

Recommendation:

2pts @ 7/2 Ireland to Win 2009 Six Nations

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Magners League Winner Betting

Guinness Premiership Winner Betting

Heineken Cup Winner Betting

Les Bleus are as short as 5/4 with Ladbrokes but are on offer at 7/4 with Corals, who clearly want to ‘get’ the Gallic team.

England are second favourites at a top price of 5/2 with betinternet, which is also a hugely generous price compared with most bookies.

Next up in the betting are Ireland at a general 11/2, followed by Wales at 9/1 and Scotland at 14/1. Italy are, as usual, the massive outsiders and are offered at 100/1.

The difference of opinions means bookies are betting to 98% on the Six Nations winner; that means you can currently bet on every side and be guaranteed to make a profit on the event.

The bookies clearly believe that there is no dominant side among the six as you can bet on there being no Grand Slam winner at a best price of 4/5 with Skybet. No Triple Crown winner is a 2/1 shot.

At Bookies.com we are still waiting for a proper set of spread betting prices to come out so we can have a bet on a low scoring Six Nations season. Evidence from recent rugby union fixtures in the Heineken Cup and Premiership games suggest the top sides are doing a lot more time wasting and diversionary tactics once they are in the lead and I think this all adds up to low scoring (and slightly dull) games.

Check out the Six Nations 2008 winner betting or the Six Nations Betting Index at bookies.com