Six Nations 2022: Top Round 1 tips

Ireland v Wales

With poor conditions forecast, the first half could see Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar trading penalties with not much between the sides at half-time, before Ireland’s forward dominance tells in the second half.

Nick Tompkins/Dan Biggar is Wales’ seventh different centre partnership in as many games. Garry Ringrose has the class to exploit this and turn in a player-of-the-match performance at 14/1, Boyle Sports.

Wales +7 on the first half handicap betting (10/11)

Scotland v England

We like the look of Sam Johnson to be an anytime try-scorer at 7/1. A disproportionate number of Calcutta Cup tries are scored by centres and Johnson is a tasty 7/1.

While the points line has yet to come out, anything under 40 would be our pick. Not one of the last eight Calcutta Cup matches at Murrayfield have passed that mark.

Scotland to win and keep the Calcutta Cup, 11/8 SBK

Scotland winning margin 1-5pts, 5/1 Betfred

Italy to end their 32-game losing run in the Six Nations? Not a chance! 

However, they might frustrate the French for the first half an hour or so, and for that reason, we’re more inclined to dabble in the second-half handicap market than take France at -35 from the start.

Given Les Bleus’ firepower and Italy’s defensive deficiencies and fitness concerns, they should be good to pile on the points late on.

France -17.5 points in the second half, 5/6, Paddy Power

Home advantage

The table below, using figures from 2015 onwards, shows that home advantage is not all it’s cracked up to be. That was certainly the case last year when there were more away wins than home wins; however, the lack of fans might have had something to do with that.

Now that the stadiums will be full again and because of the reasons we’ve outlined previously with regards to form etc., we expect the Six Nations to kick off with three home wins.

Home treble: 1.55/1