Six Nations: Round 1 Tips
TThe wait is almost over as the highly-anticipated 2025 Six Nations kicks off on Friday night with France hosting Wales at the Parc des Princes.
Saturday provides two intriguing encounters in Edinburgh and Dublin as Scotland host Italy at Murrayfield and England make the trip to the Aviva Stadium to face Ireland.
A strong start is important for any successful Six Nations campaign, and here are three tips for this week’s action as the teams try to hit the ground running in this year’s tournament.
Tip 1 - France -25.5 handicap @ 17/20
The Parc des Princes hosts the opening game of the 2025 Six Nations on Friday night as Wales make the daunting trip to Paris to take on title contenders France.
Warren Gatland’s Wales failed to win a single game in 2024 and it’s hard to see where the wins are going to come from in this year’s championship.
France has injuries to deal with as the tournament begins but such is the strength in depth in French rugby from the Top 14 that they should have more than enough to secure a bonus-point win over the Welsh in Saint-Denis.
Les Bleus beat Wales by 21 points when these sides met in Cardiff last year, and France look capable of falling on the right side of the -25.5 handicap on offer on home soil.
Tip 2 - Italy +18.5 handicap @ 17/20
Scotland will be looking for revenge when Gregor Townsend’s side host Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Scots fell to a 31-29 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico last season and they will be eager to put the record straight in Edinburgh.
While Scotland, with stars such as Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn, should have enough quality to win the game, Italy could make the Scots work for it.
Scotland scraped past the Azzurri 26-14 in the last meeting between these sides at Murrayfield in 2023, with Kinghorn scoring a length-of-the-field try with the last play of the game to the relief of the majority of the Edinburgh crowd.
Considering the recent scorelines between these sides, Italy with a +18.5 handicap looks generous indeed.
Tip 3 - England +7.5 handicap @ 17/20
New England skipper Maro Itoje has said his side are capable of beating any team in this Championship and the Saracens lock will be hoping the Red Rose can make a dream start with victory in Dublin on Saturday.
England managed to deny Ireland the Grand Slam last season with a 23-22 victory at Twickenham that few saw coming.
However, that was the perfect example of what Itoje was speaking about.
England have had their issues over recent years but they have the players capable of beating any side in world rugby on their day.
It won’t get much tougher than a trip to the Aviva Stadium, though, and despite head coach Andy Farrell being away on British & Irish Lions duty, Ireland have the game to overcome England in Dublin.
Those thinking Saturday’s game will be a one-sided affair might well be mistaken. England, with the +7.5 handicap, is certainly worth considering in this contest between two great rivals.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation