Six Nations Pre-Tournament Preview: France to Win the Six Nations?
The Six Nations kicks off on January 31 as the Stade de France returns as a venue after missing last year due to hosting the Olympics, with the French taking on Wales under the Saint-Denis lights.
Les Bleus have been beset by injuries but they still have a squad packed with superstars and can depend on Antoine Dupont, who is also back after missing the 2024 tournament to prepare for his country's successful push for Olympic Sevens gold.
Talented Ireland is without coach Andy Farrell, who is taking a watching brief as he surveys his selection options for this summer's British & Irish Lions series in Australia.
Scotland and Wales are also without the men who captained them in the autumn, while England and Italy promise much but don't consistently deliver.
Tip 1 - France to win the Six Nations @ 7/4
The last fortnight has proven how good the French club sides are, and despite a slew of injuries, Dupont and co are still the favourites to win this international tournament.
Everything could hinge on their penultimate weekend trip to Dublin. The Irish beat France in Marseille last year, but Les Bleus were still fighting through a post-World Cup hangover. With Dupont recalled, they shone in the autumn, beating Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.
Dupont is 4/1 to be player of the tournament for a fourth time, ahead of compatriots Damian Penaud (7/1) and Romain Ntamack (10/1). They, alongside the likes of Thibaud Flament, Francois Cros and Thomas Ramos, can cover for their country's absentees.
Ireland are the 15/8 second favourites to win the competition for a third straight season but may take time to settle, with coach Farrell away from the squad as part of his Lions commitments and questions over who his stand-in Simon Easterby will select at fly-half.
Both teams should be purring by the time they meet at the Aviva, but Fabien Galthie's side looks ready to put last year behind them by lifting the trophy.
Tip 2 - England to finish third @ 3/1
English rugby is under fire both on and off the field, and a poor Six Nations performance may result in Steve Borthwick's dismissal.
Finding a way for Marcus Smith to unleash his back-line could be the answer, but they are 43/20 to win in Dublin in their opener.
The Red Rose then host France but with Six Nations campaigns so often about momentum, two opening defeats could leave Borthwick in an untenable position, even if he wins the home Calcutta Cup clash in the middle week.
Despite their woes, England clearly have talent and a Scotland side without injured skipper Sione Tuipulotu could be vulnerable.
Huw Jones will have to combine with another midfield partner, and that might lead to a change of style, with none of the alternatives possessing Tuipulotu's mix of ball-carrying ability and soft hands.
Despite the hype and beating England, the Scots' only other victory in 2024 was against Wales, and Tuipulotu's troublesome pectoral muscle could expose their squad's alternative lack of leadership.
Tip 3 - Wales to finish bottom @ 8/11
After crashing out in the last eight of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Wales endured a nightmare 2024, losing all 11 of their Test matches and it could be now or never for Warren Gatland to transform their fortunes.
A final-round home defeat to Italy sealed the Wooden Spoon in 2024 and they are odds-on to finish sixth again, with a round-two trip to Rome their most likely chance to grab a victory, albeit they will have to do it without standout hooker Dewi Lake who is sidelined with a bicep problem.
The Azzurri's rise under first Kieran Crowley and now Gonzalo Quesada has led to greater optimism and alongside that victory in Cardiff, they also beat Scotland and drew in France last year
They are 13/8 to finish fifth again and the potential that they could beat other teams leaves Wales as the obvious candidates to finish bottom again.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation