The 2021 Six Nations tournament is going ahead in early February, with the tournament getting its start on the weekend of February 6-7.
This year’s edition will have a very different feel about it as it will all be played behind closed doors, just as the final couple of rounds of the previous campaign were.
But what is that likely to mean for Six Nations rugby betting?
It does essentially wipe out home advantage in some respects, as travelling teams won’t face the usual intimidating environments.
There was a close battle between England, France and Ireland for last year’s title with England just about coming out on top to earn the title.
Will they retain the title as the even-money favourites in 2021 Six Nations rugby betting?
2021 Six Nations Rugby betting odds
England Even money
France 5/2
Ireland 7/2
Wales 14/1
Scotland 22/1
Italy 750/1
* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365)
Bet at Bet365
2021 Six Nations Tournament
This will be the 127th edition of the famous tournament and the usual schedule stays in place, despite no fans being allowed at the matches.
There are no Friday matches scheduled for this year’s edition.
February 6th
Italy v France
England v Scotland
February 7th
Wales v Ireland
February 13th
England v Italy
Scotland v Wales
February 14th
Ireland v France
February 27th
Italy v Ireland
Wales v England
February 28th
France v Scotland
March 13th
Italy v Wales
England v France
March 14th
Scotland v Ireland
March 20th
Scotland v Italy
Ireland v England
France v Wales
England the favourites in 2021 Six Nations Rugby Betting
England earned the title on points difference only last season in the Six Nations. It was a thrilling tournament, one that England started badly in.
They lost out in France in their campaign opener, but did enough to recover from that major setback, helped out by Scotland beating France along the way to stop Les Blues powering to the title.
In this campaign, England will open in the Calcutta Cup against Scotland on a visit to Murrayfield.
The Red Rose are strong 1/14 odds-on favourites to win that fixture* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
England have now won three of the last five editions of the Six Nations.
They are a quote of Even money to wrap up this year’s crown* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
With plenty to build on from that campaign and with new faces like winger Paolo Odogwu and scrum-half Harry Randall, it’s going to be an interesting campaign from the reigning champions.
It’s not the easiest of campaigns in terms of fixtures with England going to Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Can France build on 2020 positives?
Few would have expected the size of the title challenge that France produced in last season’s Six Nations.
They started strongly with that win over England and (almost) never looked back. The only blip they had was a defeat at Murrayfield.
But they finished the campaign strongly at home against Ireland to match England in terms of points in the standings.
So they are likely to pose a big threat again if they can build on from that very strong platform which they laid down last year.
France are the 5/2 second-favourites and look rejuvenated* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
But a couple of big stumbling blocks for them perhaps is that they have to go on the road to face their two biggest title rivals, England and Ireland.
It was on home soil that Les Bleus beat both of those last season.
Grand Slam Odds
No Grand Slam Winner 19/20
England 5/2
France 6/1
Ireland 14/1
50/1 bar
* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365)
Bet at Bet365
Can Ireland launch a new charge for the title?
2018 Champions Ireland did play themselves into the Six Nations title picture last year.
They were in it, albeit with an outside chance of claiming the title, in the final round of action.
But that meant needing to beat France by a sizable margin in Paris which just never materialised as Ireland were soundly beaten.
For their opening game in this campaign, Ireland went to Wales after taking a 24-14 home win over them in the previous championship.
If they are to come up big with the title in the 2021 Six Nations then it could be down to those big key fixtures in Dublin.
Ireland, who are 7/2 third-favourites to win the tournament outright, host both England and France this season* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
In normal circumstances that could prove to be a huge advantage because of the part that the Dublin crowd plays at the Aviva.
But will that same factor be there this time around? Ireland are taking a lot of experience throughout their squad into action.
With that home game against England in mind, an Ireland Triple Crown option may be worth a look at 9/1 for some extended odds in Six Nations betting* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
A lot is riding on that opening fixture for them in Wales.
Can Wales improve on the previous poor campaign?
Wales were at sixes and sevens in 2020, the first Six Nations with new head coach Wayne Pivac.
Wales never got themselves going at all, looking a flat and jaded version of their former selves.
But now with some experience under his belt, can Pivac inject a new bit of life into them?
Wales only earned a W1 L4 record in last season’s Championship. A much-promised open attacking game never materialised.
Time and time again they look short of the defensive organisation more than defensive quality.
Will they have done enough since the previous campaign and a flurry of activity in the Nations Cup at the end of last year to have stepped forward?
As it stands Wales are big 14/1 outsiders in the title race for 2021 Six Nations rugby betting* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
Top Tournament Try Scorer
Jonny May 5/1
Josh Adams 8/1
Teddy Thomas 8/1
Damian Penaud 14/1
Duhan van der Merwe 14/1
James Lowe 14/1
Keith Earle 14/1
Antoine Dupont 18/1
Jamie Goerge 20/1
Jordan Larmour 20/1
Gael Fickou 25/1
50/1 bar
* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365)
Bet at Bet365
Can Scotland keep their new-found momentum going?
2020 was a good year for Scotland, who earned a positive W3 L2 record in last season’s Six Nations.
That saw them end the campaign level on points with Ireland.
The last championship had opened with back to back defeats for Scotland in Ireland and England.
But they recovered very well to round off with victories in the last three games, including upsetting title hopefuls France at Murrayfield.
With Finn Russell back in the fold, Scotland looked a bigger threat as well and just had a bit of a spring in their step.
However, the tries were still hard to come by for them.
Scotland finished the 2020 Six Nations campaign with only seven tries scored, one more than bottom side Italy managed.
Wales, who finished six points behind them, scored six tries more in the campaign than the Scots did.
That will, ultimately, but their downfall probably when it comes to making a bid in 2021.
Scotland are a 22/1 quote to win the title in the 2021 Six Nations rugby betting outright market* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
But they get a good shot at landing a big blow to England’s title hopes as they host them at Murrayfield on the opening weekend.
Italy the big outsiders once again
Italy failed to get a single point in the previous Six Nations championship, not even a bonus.
They had their moments as they usually do, in patches of good efforts against teams. But there’s nothing sustained about their threats.
They are Wooden Spoon favourite at 1/7* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
2021 Six Nations Predictions
Who gets the title this year? There was little between France, England and Ireland in the previous campaign.
They were all capable of beating each other on the day, but of the three it was Ireland who fell short.
But could they turn the tables this year with home advantage at the Aviva against France and England to come?
That could be a huge factor in determining where the title ends up.
But we think there is a bigger deciding game than that, and that is England hosting France.
The Red Rose were badly unravelled in Paris in last season’s opener and it’s unlikely that head coach Eddie Jones is going to be caught off guard again like that against Les Bleus.
It’s a strange campaign with no fans.
We would just expect the efficient game plan of England, keeping it in the forward and adopt a defence-first mentality to grind out the title as the even-money favourites* (betting odds recorded at 23:41 on January 27th 2021 at Bet365).
