France Now Odds-On Favorites (-145) to Win First Six Nations Championship Since 2010
By Robert Duff in Rugby
Updated: March 28, 2020 at 6:47 pm EDTPublished:
- Unbeaten France (3-0) are -145 favorites, on average, to win the Six Nations title
- Will the French be able to run the table and go 5-0?
- Read on to see what obstacles stand in France’s path to the title
France is back and the Six Nations is theirs for the taking.
The French, as they like to say in sporting circles, hold their destiny in their own hands. They’re the lone unbeaten side remaining in this international rugby tournament.
Thanks to England handing Ireland a 24-12 setback on Sunday, 3-0 France only need win its remaining two matches and the Six Nations title will cross the English Channel for the first time since 2010.
This development has altered the betting lines. For the first time, France is favored in the 2020 Six Nations Championship odds. Across the leading sportsbooks, Les Bleus are anywhere from -145 to -150 chalk.
2020 Six Nations Rugby Odds
| Country | Odds |
|---|---|
| France | -150 |
| England | +150 |
| Ireland | +1200 |
| Wales | +10000 |
| Scotland | +25000 |
| Italy | OFF |
Odds taken Feb. 25th.
Previous-favorites England are now the second betting choice at +150.
A Wales Of A Performance For France
A less-than-impressive performance against Italy in a 35-22 victory soured the oddsmakers on the French. England remained the +165 chalk to win the tournament, despite opening with a 24-17 loss at France.
Those lines were drawn up differently following the third week of Six Nations action. England took down the previously-unbeaten Irish 24-12. At Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the French gutted out a tough 27-23 away win over Wales.
French fly-half Romain Ntamack accounted for 17 points, including a key second-half try. France were leading 17-6 when Ntamack intercepted a Welsh pass and ran it in for the score.
It was the first win by France in Wales since 2010, also the most-recent year in which the French won the Six Nations.
England Spring On Irish
Like the French, Ireland hit the road for the first time in the tournament last weekend. Unlike France, the Irish were soundly thrashed by the English. The result left both sides with 2-1 records.
The final scoreline flattered Ireland. A converted try in the very last phase of the match narrowed England’s margin to 12 points.
The Irish, who were visited by U2 frontman Bono during training in the lead up to the match, endured their own version of a Bloody Sunday at the hands of the English.
England put Ireland on the back foot from the get-go. It was 17-0 England by halftime. For the first time in the Six Nations, the English resembled the side that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
French In Six Nations Driver’s Seat
If France wins out, there’s no other possible outcome than a French Six Nations championship.
Sunday’s outcome against England left Ireland facing a daunting route to the title. The Irish would need to win at France in their final match to maintain their slim hopes.
How do Ireland respond to their defeat to England? We hear from their coach Andy Farrell… #GuinnessSixNations #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/FYMqbT5wzv
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 24, 2020
Already with a loss in Paris, England is also facing a tough row to hoe. First, the English must get past Wales at Twickenham. They’d need to follow that up with an away beatdown of Italy.
Should Ireland succeed in Paris, there’s potential for a three-way tie for top spot. England, Ireland, and France could all finish 4-1.
The tie-breaking process is point differential. Again, this swings heavily in France’s favor.
🔵⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/HeYPbS9MPh
— Baptiste Serin (@Serin_Baptiste) February 23, 2020
The French are currently atop that statistic at +24. England are +12 and Ireland just +5.
The French side that played Wales owned a combined 234 caps between them. They’re the future of French rugby.
With each Six Nations triumph, it’s evident that future is now.
Pick: France (-150)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
