Six Nations 2019 Rugby Preview – 4.45 pm kick off
Hold on to your hats. This is the big one on the weekend from the Six Nations. With both having won their opening two fixtures of the new campaign, this one could be for all the spoils in the long run.
The Triple Crown. The Six Nations title. Potentially the Grand Slam. England are favourites, but the Welsh love to get fired up to prevent the English from having things their own way, especially in South Wales. Game on.
Wales v England odds*
England 4/7
Wales 8/5
Draw 22/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 17th, 2019 at 10:45 pm)
Table of Contents
Wales flawed but impressive
Wales have already produced one major upset in this season’s Six Nations. They came back from 16-0 down out in France at half time on weekend one, to post a win. That was just about as impressive as it gets. It was the biggest ever comeback in Six Nations history. The concern for the Welsh would have been over how they had gotten themselves in that position in the first place. But it was a tremendous win nonetheless.
91st Oscars 2019 – Predictions & Winner Odds
So making a trip to Italy for their second match, it was expected to be plain sailing for the Dragons. It wasn’t quite that way. They had a struggle on their hands and head coach Warren Gatland admitted that their 26-15 victory in Rome was an ugly win. It was scrappy and unconvincing from the Welsh, but it’s never a bad thing when you can not play well and still win fixtures as they did.
Dragons search for form against England
There are question marks over their defensive output this season though. England appear to be in the kind of mood to exploit that too. In last season’s Six nations the Welsh suffered a 12-6 loss at Twickenham against the Red Rose. That was their fifth straight loss against the English in the competition, home and away.
Each of those five losses through were by nothing more than a margin of eleven or less. A Wales +4 handicap is at 10/11 for this weekend’s clash* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 17th, 2019 at 10:45 pm). In their last three home games against England in the Six Nations, Wales are W1 L3.
England title favourites
England have looked impressive and powerful this season in the competition. They opened with a tremendous victory out in Dublin against the reigning champions Ireland. That was a display of pure intensity, opportunistic scoring and outrageous commitment.
There was always the question as to whether or not the Red Rose would be able to follow up on that intensity as they faced France at home on the second weekend of action. They silenced any doubts with a massive 44-8 victory over the French.
England really played a very smart game, scoring four of their tries from kicks ahead, time and time again exposing acres of space in behind the French defence. It won’t be that easy against the Welsh though.
Jonny May scored a hattrick in the match, taking his tally to four tries in this season’s Six Nations so far. May and his blistering speed leaves him at 13/8 in the anytime try scorer market* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 17th, 2019 at 10:45 pm)
Wales v England Prediction
Wales will do everything in their power to get under the skin of England. We can see this being a tough game for England under the scrutiny of a hostile crowd. But still, England have shown a lot of character already.
Even though they are missing a couple of important players, notably Mako Vunipola and Chris Ashton, we can see them just covering the -4 handicap at 10/11* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 20th, 2019 at 10:45 pm).
