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The 2022 Six Nations continues this weekend with a blockbuster round of fixtures. On Saturday, table-toppers France take on Scotland at 2:15 looking to maintain their 100 percent record before England and Wales face off at Twickenham at 4:45pm.
Rounding off the weekend is Ireland’s clash with Italy at 3pm inside the Aviva on Sunday.
Jon Newcombe of TheRugbyTipster.com banged in five winners last time out, and joined our pals at PPTV to pick out more top tips for Round 3.
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The latest rugby odds are on PaddyPower.com nowSaturday 2.15pm: Scotland v France
TV: Virgin Media 1/ BBC1
France -7
France go here with one change, but it’s nothing too disastrous for them. I know Gabin Villiere scored a hat trick in the first game but they’ve got Jonathan Danty to run up hard through the centre and they’ve pushed Yoram Moefana out onto the wing.
With the same pack and just one change to the backline, they’ve got a settled look about them. They’re three games now, building up momentum. Scotland away is never easy and France haven’t won there since 2014, in the Six Nations at least.
But I really do fancy them to get the job done. There’s always Wales away for France to slip up in and England at home, for Irish supporters! I just don’t think the banana skin will be at Murrayfield this weekend.
I think Scotland will make it tough for them in the first 40 but as the game wears on and the respective benches come into play, France’s definitely looks stronger. I think eventually that will tell on Scotland and France will go on to win by close to double figures. I reckon they’ll cover the France (-7) handicap.
Cyril Baille Anytime Try scorer
I’ve just been crunching the numbers earlier and other than wingers who are the obvious options to be a try scorer, all the other positions are fairly well evenly matched. There’s been three tries scored in the Six Nations by a prop. No other position has scored more.
They’re normally fairly long odds so I’d have a look at one of the French Props. Cyril Baille got one of those earlier in the tournament so Baille so Score A Try Anytime might be worth a look.
- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: Here’s the Six Nations 2022 fixtures, kick off times and latest odds
Saturday 4.45pm: England v Wales
TV: ITV/ RTE
England To Win By 11-15 points
History suggests England will win this, they’ve won the last five against Wales at Twickenham. There was that disastrous 2015 defeat at the hands of Wales where Dan Biggar got 23 of the 28 points.
They’ll need another massive performance from Biggar again. He was impressive against Scotland, limping his way through that game. He scored 15 of their points in the 20-17 victory. They’ll need a similar contribution from him plus a bit more.
It’s whether they have got that big more. I’m still not convinced about the Welsh attack, I don’t think they’ve got enough tries in them. The players inside the wing are not distributing the ball in time and space, hence why Louis Rees-Zammit has struggled.
I don’t think Biggar’s penalties will be enough to trouble an England side that has got tries in them. The handicap looks bang on so I’ll go with England to Win by 11-15 points.
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Sunday 3pm: Italy v Ireland
TV: Virgin Media 1/ ITV1
Ireland (-40)
It’s a big handicap to cover, but I think the weather forecast is decent. They’ve got a referee in Georgian Nika Amashukeli who did Ireland v Japan and that was a very flowing game. I know things can be different in the Six Nations but he clearly had an intent to let the players play.
Also this Ireland team has got multiple dimensions to it in an attacking sense whereas, perhaps previously, they relied too much on the pack and pragmatism.
As you know they’ve got plenty of strike runners, plenty of threats all over the park and they’ll back themselves to get the points and tries that they need because points difference could be really important.
If France do slip up then it’s whoever gets the most points against Italy that could be the factor and France didn’t exactly blow Italy away in their first game. If Ireland can get towards the half century mark I think they’ll cover the Ireland (-40) handicap because Italy rarely get into double figures nowadays.
Gary Ringrose Anytime Tryscorer
Hugo Keenan’s been a bit quiet on the try-scoring front but I think there’ll be plenty of space for him to weave his magic. I’d be looking to him and maybe Gary Ringrose who’s had a good Six Nations so far.
He’s popped up with the odd try here and there but he could probably do with upping his try-scoring ratio. I’ll go with Gary Ringrose to Score a Try Anytime.
Six Nations rugby tips
Saturday 2.15pm: Scotland v France
France (-7)
Cyril Baille Anytime Tryscorer
Saturday 4.45pm: England v Wales
England To Win By 11-15 points
Sunday 3pm: Italy v Ireland
Ireland (-40)
Gary Ringrose Anytime Tryscorer
Read More
- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: Here’s the Six Nations 2022 fixtures, kick off times and latest odds
- TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Paddy’s complete tipping guide