In two month’s time the 2025 Six Nations will conclude with the traditional Super Saturday but this weekend it starts with what Welsh fans might be calling Fingers Crossed Friday.
That distant finale will end with the French hosting the Scottish in Paris and Les Bleus are hoping that the championship – and even the Grand Slam – will be on the line.
In order for that to happen they need to get off to a flyer against the Welsh on Friday night, also on home soil, while the visitors are in desperate need of a morale-boosting performance.
On Saturday afternoon Scotland play host to an Italian team that is hoping to build on its best-ever Six Nations performance last year while championship hat trick-chasing Ireland will be looking to keep a bullish England at bay.
Let’s see how the bookies rate the teams, to win both the tournament and also in this first round of matches.
Tournament odds
Here are the tournament odds from PaddyPower:
- France 6/4
- Ireland 7/4
- England 4/1
- Scotland 8/1
- Wales 40/1
- Italy 100/1
Favouritism is justifiably shared by Ireland and France. As mentioned above, the Irish are looking to win the championship for a third year in a row while the French are excited to have the world’s best player – scrum half Antoine Dupont – back in the team after his Olympics Sevens sabbatical in 2024.
Both have obstacles in their paths, however. Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell is on a sabbatical of his own this year (taking charge of the British and Irish Lions) while the French have to travel to Dublin and London. England and Scotland need to stop shooting themselves in the foot, the Italians are hoping to build on last year’s high, while the Welsh just want to avoid the wooden spoon.
France v Wales
Wales were Six Nations champions just four years ago but since then the nation has slipped from the top echelons of international rugby. Retirements, injuries and the defection of Louis Rees-Zammit to NFL mixed in with in-fighting off the pitch has left the nation’s rugby in disarray.
This is not a match-up to offer much hope either. Wales beat the French in 9 of 10 clashes between 2012 and 2019 but since then the French have won six on the trot. The French, in contrast, are blessed by generational talent and the return of fly half Romain Ntamack is as important to their hopes as Dupont’s. He’s a thrilling attacker and the two form a potentially potent combination.
France v Wales odds
Here are the latest match odds for France v Wales from Betfred.
- France: 1/150
- Draw: 33/1
- Wales: 16/1
Betting Tip: France to win the handicap (-26 pts) at 10/11 with SkyBet
France will go full pelt from the first whistle, mobilising both their huge pack and lightning fast backs. Linking all of it will be the little genius Dupont who, thanks to new laws, will have more protection and space to weave his magic. Can an inexperienced Wales withstand the pressure?
In recent weeks French clubs have destroyed the opposition in European club rugby and this match could witness more of the same. Wales lost their final two autumn internationals by 32 (against Australia) and 33 (against South Africa). On home soil Les Bleus can rack up a similar winning margin.
Scotland v Italy
The Azzuri won the very first Six Nations match between these two nations in 2000 and they were also victorious in seven of the first 16 encounters in the championship, but last year’s defeat of the Scots in Rome was their first since 2015. The Italians have also won only three of their six matches since last year’s excellent Six Nations effort.
Scotland, in contrast, rounded off a fine autumn international series with a 27-13 defeat of the impressive Australians. Incredibly, Scotland has never won the Six Nations although they did win the last edition of the Five Nations in 1999.
Scotland v Italy odds
Here are the latest match odds for Scotland v Italy from Betfred.
- Scotand: 1/20
- Draw: 28/1
- Italy: 9/1
Betting Tip: Italy to win at 9/1 with Betfair Sportsbook
The column had success in the autumn internationals by backing the underdogs when the price was wrong and this is another opportunity. The Scots deserve favouritism but three factors suggest that the visitors might be a touch over-priced.
The first is that Italy should be motivated and excited by last year’s performance (if they can manage high expectations). The second is this Scottish squad’s habit of underachieving. And finally there is Scotland’s growing injury list. They’ve lost their captain and numerous key members of the squad. Italy are a temptingly big price to make a great start.
Best bookies to bet on the Six Nations Championship
Here are our top rated rugby betting sites:
Ireland v England
Simon Easterby has taken over Farrell’s coaching mantle and he had two big decisions to make. The first was the extent to which he stuck with the experienced squad which won the last two championships. He opted to trust them. The second remains unresolved: will he hand the number 10 jersey to Sam Prendergast or to Jack Crowley? Both are exciting talents but which one can step into the shoes of the great Johnny Sexton?
The visitors are used to selections dilemmas: they’ve more or less defined every pre- and post-match discussion since the start of the Eddie Jones era.
Ireland v England odds
Here are the latest match odds for Ireland v England from Betfred.
- Ireland: 1/3
- Draw: 22/1
- England: 23/10
Betting Tip: England to win at 49/20 with BetMGM
Farrell is a strong figure in the Irish dressing room so Easterby has a task on his hands replacing him and the Irish were a little vulnerable in the autumn internationals. The two fly halves also have the toughest task of their careers ahead of them in the next two months. England are no strangers to success in this match-up.
In fact, a 23-22 victory denied Ireland the Grand Slam last year. They have also won three of nine clashes between the two at the Aviva Stadium. As with Saturday’s first match the home team are deserved favourites but England are too big at 49/20 – they are less than 2/1 in places.
How to watch the Six Nations Championship Week 1
France v Wales:
Location: Stade de France, Paris
Date and Time: Friday 31st January, 20:15
How to watch: ITV, S4C, Virgin Media
Scotland v Italy:
Location: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Date and Time: Saturday 1st February, 14:15
How to watch: BBC, RTÉ
Ireland v England:
Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Date and Time: Saturday 1st February, 16:45
How to watch: ITV, Virgin Media
About the author
Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He’s worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He’s covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
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