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2012 Six Nations Preview & Tips

Posted on January 11, 2012 by editor

2012 Six Nations promises to be the most competitive Northern Hemisphere rugby tournament in decades. With Wales growing steadily in strength, Scottish club sides doing well in the Heineken Cup and Rabo ProDirect 12, Italian players getting consistent exposure to European club rugby, and the likes of England, Ireland and France all showing strong form in the recent Rugby World Cup, the tournament looks more open than ever.

A look at the contenders

England:
England’s been struggling with off-field issues in the months since their unsuccessful World Cup campaign. With Martin Johnson quitting as coach and Stuart Lancaster taking over temporarily, it’s an unsettled England outfit that will compete in the 2012 Six Nations.

With a slew of players retiring, and Danny Care suspended for the tournament, the team is also likely to feature many new faces. This level of instability can’t auger well for England’s chances, and they look a good lay betting option at under 3/1 at Betfair.

France:
Nobody will be taking France likely after their appearance in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. The French were unlucky to lose a final they dominated from start to finish against a nervous New Zealand outfit, and will have a point to prove at the 2012 Six Nations.

Tomas Lievremont is finally out of the picture for Les Bleus, and French fans are likely to welcome an end to his chop and change selection policy, and bizarre player placements that saw Francois Trinh Duc on the sidelines for most of the World Cup. He is replaced by Phillipe Saint-Andre, who has already made his mark by recalling some of France’s finest players to the squad.

The presence of a new coach is likely to boost France rather than cause disarray. Given the lack of respect the players had for Lievremont, things can only improve for Les Bleus, and with their crunch game against England scheduled to be played in Paris, France look a great bet at 7/4 at Bet365.

Ireland:
Ireland performed better than expected at the 2011 World Cup, beating Australia before being outclassed by Wales in the quarterfinals. The Irish squad doesn’t look quite as formidable as it has in recent seasons, but is built around a core of players taken from the Heinken Cup Champions, and current Rabo Direct 12 log leaders, Leinster.

Games against Ireland are never easy, but in 2012 we expect to see Ireland turning over some of the top teams but can’t see them taking the title outright. However, the Irish are most dangerous when underestimated, and they’re certain to have plenty of backers at a price of 5/1.

Wales: Wales looks spoilt for choice in its player pool coming into this World Cup. The likes of Leigh Halfpenny, Scott Williams, Johnathan Davies, George North and Rhy Priestland all look like future stars of the international game, and will be joining the likes of proven stars like Jamie Roberts.

Wales fields what looks like easily the best backline in the tournament in 2012, and with solid leadership up front are real title contenders. The only question mark hanging over this team is the lack of experience – which was exposed in their semifinal against France at the World Cup. Expect Wales to be in the mix come the last two rounds of the Six Nations, and consider a small punt on the men from the valleys at 11/4 at Paddy Power.

Scotland:
Scotland has been quietly but steadily rebuilding for the last couple of seasons. While the Scots were eliminated from the World Cup in the pool stages, it was clear that there’s a new attitude in the team, and they can only be bolstered by Edinburgh’s strong showing in the Heineken Cup and Glasgow’s solid performances in the Rabo ProDirect 12.

The Scots are blooding several exciting young players at the 2012 Six Nations including wing Lee Jones, 19 year old fullback Stuart Hogg and flyhalf Duncan Weir. The Scots also aim to play former Wales under-20 star, Steven Shingler, in the tournament. This injection of new blood may be exactly what Scotland needs to start challenging for the championship. While we don’t see Scotland pulling off an upset win in 2012, they don’t look like wooden spoon contenders either – expect them to roll a few big teams this year.

Italy:
Italy had a forgettable World Cup, and were eliminated in the group stages. The World Cup ended with the departure of coach, Nick Mallet, and Frenchman Jacques Brunel has taken over.

Brunel has a solid coaching pedigree as coach of Perpignan and assistant coach to the French national team, however, this is his first stint as the manager of a national side. He’ll have a tough season ahead of him with the Italian public expectant as Italy graduates from the Stadio Flaminio, to the Stadio Olimpico.

There’s some promise in the Italian team in terms of personnel, with the backline featuring several younger players. However, they still don’t look capable of more than the odd heroic victory over a top side. Trips to Rome will be tougher in 2012, but Italy are still a good bet for wooden spoonists.

2012 Six Nations Betting Tips

Based on form and personnel, Wales and France look like the most likely title contenders – and if this proves to be so, the tournament could be decided on the final weekend when Wales hosts France at the Millennium Stadium. We can’t but help like the look for France for this tournament – with the disruptive influence of Lievremont a thing of the past, France can only get better. Throw in a rock-solid player base seasoned in the most competitive domestic league in Europe, and you have the recipe for a French championship victory. We doubt it will be a grand slam, but France is our bet to win the 2012 Six Nations.

More on the 2012 Six Nations Championship

Gambling Guru will be offering comprehensive coverage of the 2012 Six Nations Championship. We’re previewing every match at the tournament with head-to-head stats and form analysis for competing teams, as well as offering the best odds from top bookies on the biggest betting markets. Don’t miss out on our Six Nations betting specials if you’re looking for extra value, and stay in touch with events with our live Six Nations log and results service.

2012 Six Nations Betting Odds

Six Nations - Six Nations
Winner -
Click red odds to strike a bet
Wales5/46/56/56/55/46/511/811/106/5
France6/413/86/46/46/413/811/813/86/4
England59/2555559/25
Ireland121412121214121612
Scotland200300500300200300-1000200
Italy50002000750100050002500-5000-

Today's Rugby Betting Specials

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