- Scotland +5.5 tries (Evs, Paddy Power)
- Scotland -27 on the h’cap (Evns, Bet 365)
- Scotland by 31-40 points (7/2, Paddy Power, Betfair)
- England to win (4/6, various)
- England first scoring play v Ireland (4/1, Boyle Sports)
- Wales +8 (Evs, Paddy Power)
- France-Wales Double Result (12/1, Betfred)
- Total Points >47.5 (10/11, Bet 365)
Saturday 20 March, 2021 fixtures
Scotland v Italy, Murrayfield, ko 2.15pm (UK)
Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, ko 4.45pm (UK)
France v Wales, Twickenham, ko 8.00pm (UK)
Hogg-ing the headlines
In what has been a miserable campaign, wooden-spoonists Italy are on course to break their own unwanted record for points conceded in a single Six Nations Championship.
The Azzurri may have enjoyed more success against Scotland than any other nation but the memories of those past glories are fading fast as their last win came in round 3 of the 2015 Six Nations.
It is hard to support any argument other than a comprehensive home win, and the handicap of -27 just doesn’t look enough to stop Scotland in their tracks.
Led by Stuart Hogg from fly-half instead of his position at full-back, Scotland will be hellbent on reaping more misery on the Italians as they look to go into next Friday’s rearranged game against France on a high, and we’re thinking they should be good for at least half-a-dozen tries.
Fast start crucial in Dublin
Ireland versus England looks even closer than the four-point game the bookies make it out to be, which is why we’re hesitant to fall one way or the other in this fixture.
England produced their best performance of the Six Nations in beating France 23-20 in round four and have momentum, while Ireland only got away with an equally narrow win against Scotland in Edinburgh because the Scots couldn’t hit a barn door at lineout time and Johnny Sexton was once again on the money with his kicking.
Ireland are heavily reliant on their ageing 10 for points and, if we had to choose, England’s extra cutting edge in the backs sways us their way.
One thing is almost a given though – the team in front at half-time will go on and win the game. That has happened in each of the last 27 Tests between the teams.
England need to get out of the blocks quickly and put Antony Watson in a one-on-one with Jacob Stockdale. The big Ulsterman is not the most adept at changing direction quickly and Six Nations joint top try-scorer Watson has the footwork, and the confidence, to trouble him.
Eyes on the big prize
No Welsh team in the past has been better equipped from an experience point of view to deal with the pressure of winning the Grand Slam.
The Wales team that takes to the field in Paris on Saturday has 987 caps – eight more than the previous high – and includes the world’s most-capped player, Alun Wyn Jones and rugby’s youngest centurion George North.
Wales don’t tend to stuff up when a Grand Slam is within touching distance, and we think that theme will continue this weekend.
All four previous Grand Slam games have been won in the Six Nations era, and while beating France in Les Bleus’ own backyard takes some doing, they have the clinical edge to get the job done in what should be a thrilling encounter.
With North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams on fire, Wales do not waste many scoring opportunities, and neither do France to be fair, so we could be in for a cracking finish to round five with plenty of points and tries.
