France vs Ireland
12th February 2022 – Kick Off 1645hrs
Rugby – England – Six Nations
Pick France -5 handicap
Bookmaker Paddy Power
Odds: Even money odds taken 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022
Will this be something of an early title decider in this season’s Six Nations Rugby?
Both France and Ireland looked comfortable and impressive in the first round of action and now meet for a heavyweight clash on Saturday.
Will Les Bleus be able to make it three in a row against the Irish in the Six Nations? Doing so would see them take a giant step towards the crown.
Table of Contents
France Preview – Big crunch game for France
Most punters would have expected France to land the Six Nations title last season, but they couldn’t quite get there.
In the pre-tournament Six Nations rugby betting, France were pegged as favourites.
They made no mistakes with a 37-10 victory over Italy in their opener last weekend.
Saturday’s game is obviously going to be a lot tougher for them than that.
In the match outright for this weekend’s fixture, France are 1/2 odds-on* (odds recorded 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022 at Paddy Power).
This is a huge opportunity for them on home turf against what is likely to be their big title challenger, Ireland.
At the end of the Autumn Internationals last year, France came up with a big win.
They totally demolished the challenge of New Zealand by taking a bold, open approach against the All Blacks.
The French controlled that fixture brilliantly.
Having gotten their easiest match out of the way in this year’s Six Nations first up, that will at least have given the French the chance to get some match sharpness under their belt.
France have won their last two matches in the Six Nations against Ireland.
Last season they dug out a 15-13 victory in Dublin.
Three of the last four meetings between the two nations in the competition have been settled by a margin of no more than eight points.
France looks like a very expansive side and pack their usual power in the forwards.
They are never an easy side to turn over in Paris either, winning eight of their last nine competitive matches on home turf (L1).
Ireland Preview – Irish dealt a blow
Ireland will go into their big clash in Paris against France without captain Johnny Sexton.
He picked up an injury in training in midweek.
Sexton was replaced in Saturday’s starting line up by Joey Carbery in that fly-half position.
The rest of the Irish line up stays as it is.
That’s a blow for Ireland as he was instrumental in guiding Ireland to a dominant win against Wales in the opening round of this year’s Six Nations.
Ireland took a 29-7 victory over Wales in Dublin.
It was only a late error of judgement, giving Wales the ball from an intercepted pass, that saw the visitors get on the scoreboard.
In the match outright, Ireland are a quote of 9/5 for rugby betting* (odds recorded 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022 at Paddy Power).
Ireland are on a big roll of momentum at the moment, having won their last nine internationals.
However, that run is going to come up against a stern challenge on the weekend.
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Ireland have posted a W2 D1 L2 record in their last five visits to Paris in the Six Nations.
So they have not let the French have things all their own way.
The trend has been very tight games between these two.
France’s win in 2020, the last time that Ireland is, was by an eight-point margin.
The previous four meetings had all been settled by a margin of no more than two points.
A France -5 handicap is at a quote of even money pushes that margin for Six Nations rugby betting* (odds recorded 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022 at Paddy Power).
France vs Ireland Betting Advice
France will get a much sterner test than they did against Italy in their campaign opener, and even they will have been surprised at how well the Italians started that match.
But France, when they are on their game, are an absolute beast and should win a likely tight duel.
The France -5 handicap is there at a quote of even money* (odds recorded 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022 at Paddy Power).
Key Facts – France vs Ireland Betting Tip
- France are W2 D1 L2 in their last five Six Nations home matches against Ireland
- France have won all but one of their last nine competitive home fixtures
- Ireland are on a nine-match winning streak
Ireland too, who were just so comfortably dominant against a Welsh side that lacked any threat last weekend, will be asked much bigger questions.
They are bang in form at the moment, winning their last nine, including a win over New Zealand in the autumn internationals.
But the loss of Sexton is a big one. France may just find a way through and it is a France 1-10 winning margin at 15/8 that gets the nod* (odds recorded 01:18 GMT on February 11th, 2022 at Paddy Power).
The best betting odds for France vs Ireland
France to win: 1/2 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Ireland to win: 9/5 at Bet365
