England vs France
6th December 1400hrs
Rugby – England – Autumn Nations Cup
Pick England -17 handicap
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December
As expected the Autumn Nations Cup comes down to England vs France. The two heavyweights meet at Twickenham on Sunday.
When the two met in this year’s Six Nations, England were humbled by the French in Paris.
Will they turn the tables on them? They have a good chance with France sending out a much-changed side.
Table of Contents
England Preview – England to pick up the win
This may not turn out to be the great contest that it should have been. England won’t be facing a full-strength France.
Still, England have to get the job done and they are the 1/16 odds-on favourites in the match outright* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
It has been a powerful campaign from England, who took wins over Georgia, Ireland and Wales on their way to topping their group.
The last time that England lost a match was on matchday one of this year’s Six Nations when they lost to France in Paris.
England are sticking largely with the side that took a win in Wales last weekend.
Anthony Watson will be making a return to replace the injured Jonathan Joseph and that’s it.
We have to go to the handicap market and an England -17 handicap is currently a quote of 10/11* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
It is a little hard to read that margin of victory. Only two of England’s last four wins over the French have covered that line.
The most recent of those was their big 44-8 victory at Twickenham over Les Blues in the 2019 Six Nations.
We have seen in this Autumn Nations Cup that England are happy to build a lead and then just play defensive.
We do see the victory heading England’s way, because of what power and control the pack delivers.
An England 11-20 winning margin option looks to us a better option at 11/4* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
France Preview – Can understand French pull off an upset?
This is now a big ask for the French as they head to Twickenham to try and win the Autumn Nations Club.
France had an agreement with their top domestic league (Top 14) that players could only play in three international matches during the autumn window.
France’s autumn started with a big Test match against Wales, followed by a big Six Nations clash against Ireland for which they were at full strength.
Subsequent wings over Scotland and Italy in the Autumn Nations Cup have seen their squad depleted now.
About 25 main players that France cannot now select from for this match.
England’s squad has a total of 813 caps, while France’s has just 68.
France are the 15/2 underdogs in the match outright in rugby betting* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
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France have lost their last four trips to Twickenham in the Six Nations, so their most recent efforts have seen them come up short.
So it’s unlikely that their understrength side is going to roll out a victory.
So for rugby betting, this is going to be all about the margins in this one.
The France +17 handicap is about the best way to approach this game in support of them at 10/11* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
England vs France Betting Advice
Yes, the win for England should happen on Sunday and it will likely be by the usual manner as well.
England will batter their way through the forwards and just try and stifle anything that the French have.
We have to roll with the England 11-20 winning margin at 11/4 as our top option* (odds taken 21:04 GMT Friday, 4th December).
Key Facts – England vs France Betting Tip
- England have not lost since the defeat to France in the Six Nations
- England have won their last four home games against the French
- France’s squad boasts 68 caps only England’s 813 on Sunday
France may offer up something unpredictable through the early stages and give England something to think about.
But ultimately throughout a long grind, the inexperience is going to see them come up short.
Their strongest sides have struggled for recent form at Twickenham.
The best betting odds for England vs France
England to win: 1/16 at Bet365
Draw: 40/1 at Bet365
France to win: 15/2 at Bet365
