Six Nations Tips: England Total Wins

I must admit I’m struggling to see why England are 9/2 (Boylesports) to win the Six Nations. After a wretched World Cup the team and management have been dismantled with a new set of ideas and players in their place. This all sounds very positive, but there is no substitute for experience.

It took a gut wrenching defeat in Paris in 2002, to turn England into future Grand Slam and World Champions. To assume they can assemble a brand new squad and start winning immediately is fanciful.

England go into their opening game against Scotland with Charlie Hodgson as their most experienced player, with 36 caps. Considering he has been in the international wilderness for four years, this must be a concern.

If England lose their opening game, they must become second favourites against Wales, Ireland and France. All of whom have familiar squads with a nucleus of experienced professionals. Lose those games and there is the very real possibility that England end the campaign with a solitary victory against Italy.

England are 9/1 with BetVictor to finish the Six Nations with exactly one win, a scenario I find more likely than outright tournament victory, with the added bonus that any draws aren’t counted.