It’s been a couple of years since we last took a look at one of the premiere sporting events of the early months of the year, the Six Nations tournament.
This year’s tournament is under way already and this weekend we reach the midway point of the action as we play through Week Three’s fixture list.
After this weekend, just two more fixtures will remain for each team and the importance of these matches cannot be understated, not just in terms of the outcome of the Six Nations tournament itself, but also as some key Rugby World Cup warm up games ahead of the big tournament taking place in France later this year.
And we will have plenty more on the 2023 Rugby World Cup when we hit September 2023!
For now, you can enjoy a wealth of betting on the Six Nations tournament and its individual fixtures with bet365 Sport, which includes outright betting on the tournament winner, as well as pre-match and In Play betting on each game across the five weeks of action.
Prior to the tournament bet365 had Ireland and France as the two main favourites to win the Six Nations, with England next in the betting, followed by Scotland, Wales and then Italy.
However, across the first two weeks, things have not quite panned out as those odds would have suggested.
Let’s begin our review with a look at how the tournament has progressed so far, taking in the action from the first two game weeks of the competition.
Six Nations 2023 – Game Week 1
- Wales 10 (Tries: Williams 46; Pen: Biggar 14)
- Ireland 34 (Tries: Doris 2, Ryan 9, Lowe 21, van der Flier 73: Pens: Sexton 19,28)
Ireland produced a scintillating first half display to blow away a Welsh team that really struggled to get going in the early exchanges.
By the time the Welsh did start to get a bit of possession, they were already well down in the game and Ireland defender stoutly and then hit the Welsh to secure a bonus point with their fourth try late in the game.
This was an impressive start by the team ranked number 1 in the WRU rankings.
- England 23 (Tries: Malins 24,38, Genge 48: Pens: Farrell 40,65)
- Scotland 29 (Tries: Jones 15, van der Merwe 29,74, White 51; Pens: Russell 69)
Scotland retained the Calcutta Cup for a third year in a row with a superb win over England at a packed Twickenham.
The Scots led early and then a stunning van der Merwe try put them further ahead, but by half time England had clawed back the deficit to lead 13-12 at the interval.
However, another Duhan van der Merwe try in addition to one from Ben White handed the Scots the initiative in the second half and they hung on to secure an outstanding win.
- Italy 24 (Tries: Capuozzo 32, Penalty Try 51; Pens: Allan 14,23,40,62)
- France 29 (Tries: Flament 5, Ramos 19, Dumortier 27, Jalibert 67: Pen: Ramos 47)
Italy put up a fine response after a blistering start by France to give the French plenty to think about after their opening Six Nations game.
Three French tries in the opening 27 minutes seemed to put the game in French hands but a try from Capuozzo and a penalty from Allen kept Italy in touch. A penalty try and another penalty on 62 gave the Italians the lead, only for Jalibert to come off the bench to score the try to give France the win.
The French were not at their best in this game, but credit must go to Italy for making things so difficult for the current Grand Slam and Six Nations holders.
Six Nations 2023 – Game Week 2
- Ireland 32 (Tries: Keenan 9, Lowe 21, Porter 26, Ringrose 72: Pens : Sexton 40, Byrne 60)
- France 19 (Tries: Penaud 18: Pens Ramos 5,15,33; DK – Ramos 62)
Ireland followed up their big win over Wales with an emphatic win over France, ending the French team’s 14-game unbeaten run in outstanding fashion.
An early French penalty didn’t faze the Irish who ran in three tries in 17 minutes, with the French adding one themselves in a frantic first half that also saw four penalties converted, three for France, one for Ireland.
A stout Irish defence nullified France in the second half and Ringrose try late on secured the win and the bonus point for the hugely impressive Irish.
- Scotland 35 (Tries: Turner 30, Steyn 51,58, Kinghorn 71, Fagerson 79; Pen: Russell 9,15)
- Wales 7 (Tries: Owens 34)
Scotland moved second in the Six Nations table after their thumping victory over the Welsh to earn themselves the Doddie Weir trophy.
The Wales, a shadow of their best team of a few years back, could only muster one try in the game as the Scots powered in five tries, four in the second half, as they put the Welsh to the sword.
With wins over England and Wales, Scotland’s match up against Ireland in Week Four now has the look of a Six Nations decider, although the Scots must travel to France this week beforehand.
- England 31 (Tries: Willis 13, Chessum 28, George 37, Penalty Try 50, Arundel 71;)
- Italy 14 (Tries: Riccioni 44, Fusco 63)
England produced a more solid performance against Italy to record their first win in the Six Nations under Steve Borthwick.
The English ran in five tries against Italy, who could only muster two in response in a game that showed that the Italians are definitely closing the gap on the other Six Nations teams.
With games still to come against France and Ireland, tougher tests lie in wait for England and it will be interesting to see how they get on in those crucial games.
Current Six Nations Table (after Week 2)
| Team Name | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | PD | Bns | Pts |
| Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 29 | +37 | 2 | 10 |
| Scotland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 30 | +34 | 2 | 10 |
| England | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 43 | +11 | 2 | 6 |
| France | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 1 | 5 |
| Italy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 60 | -22 | 1 | 1 |
| Wales | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 69 | -52 | 0 | 0 |
Six Nations 2023 – Week Three Matches, Preview And Tips
Saturday 25th February
- Italy v Ireland (2.15pm)
Italy face the best team in the world at the moment and it is going to be a tough lesson for the Italians as I would expect Ireland to secure a heavy bonus point win.
How Will The Game End – Italy 10-41 Ireland
Our Top Tip – Handicap – Ireland (-23) – 10/11
- Wales v England (4.45pm)
The Welsh have a good record against England at the Millennium Stadium so Steve Borthwick’s team are going to have to capitalise on some poor Welsh form at the moment to snatch a win here.
How Will The Game End – Wales 21-25 England
Our Top Tip – Handicap – England (-3) – 10/11
Sunday 26th February
- France v Scotland (3pm)
This should be the game of the weekend with a resurgent Scotland taking on a French team who will want to get back to winning ways to stay in the Six Nations. It will be a close call we feel.
How Will The Game End – France 20-18 Scotland
Our Top Tip – Handicap – Scotland (+8) – Evens
Tags: bet365 Sport Rugby Union Six Nations sports betting
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