The Six Nations Championship starts on
February 2nd when Wales open the defence of their title
against Ireland. Wales also claimed the Triple Crown and the Grand
Slam in 2012 but can expect tough opposition from France and England
this year. There will be a feast of top class rugby right through to
the concluding fixtures on March 16th. Bookmakers are
offering odds on outright tournament winner, the wooden spoon and all
fifteen matches plus several special markets. The Six Nations 2013
Top Tryscorer betting is wide open with 8-1 and upwards about any
player in the tournament.
Chris Ashton is the market
leader at 8-1. Ashton has played at international level in both Rugby
League and Rugby Union. He formerly represented his home club Wigan
Warriors in the Super League as a full-back before joining Saracens
in the Aviva Premiership. Now established on the wing, Ashton was
joint leading try-scorer with six when representing England at the
2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He started all five matches for
England in last year’s Six Nations and scored a hat-trick of tries
in the 57-26 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham. He also
started all three test matches on the 2012 summer tour to South
Africa.
Maxime Médard of France is a
leading contender at 14-1. Médard plays his club rugby for French
club Stade Toulousain and is extremely versatile. He is equally
effective at full-back and on the wing and is a two-time winner of
the Heineken Cup.
Alex Cuthbert of Wales will have
his supporters at around 9-1. Although born in Gloucester, Cuthbert
qualifies for Wales by virtue of his mother being born in Wrexham. He
plays on the wing for Cardiff Blues and is now a regular in the Welsh
starting line up. He scored the only try in the final game against
France in Wales' Six Nations triumph last year and started in all of
his side’s Autumn International fixtures. He also scored a try in
the game against New Zealand and is clearly a player to watch.
Wesley Fofana is the shortest in
the betting from France at 10-1. Fofana plays for ASM Clermont
Auvergne and can play at either wing or centre. He is nicknamed “The
Cheetah” in France because of his terrific acceleration and is a
threat to any defence in the tournament. He made his international
debut in the Six Nations against Italy in 2012, marking his debut
with a try. He also scored in the games against Scotland and Ireland.
A 75th minute try against England completed a remarkable
four tries in his first four internationals.
Manu Samoa Tuilagi of England is
priced at 12-1 to be top tryscorer during the tournament. Samoan-born
Tuilagi plays for Aviva Premiership side Leicester Tigers and can
also play on the wing or at centre. He made his England debut in the
World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham in 2011, scoring
a try in the 44th minute. He also scored in the third warm up game
against Ireland.
Craig Gilroy is the most
prominent Irish player in the betting at 16-1. He plays on the wing
for Ulster, scoring in the defeat of Munster in the April 2012
Heineken Cup quarter final. In November last year, Gilroy scored a
hat-trick of tries for Ireland against Fiji at Thomond Park in
November and scored the opening try on his test debut against
Argentina.
Other leading contenders include George
North (Wales) 16-1, Tim Visser (Scotland) 16-1, David
Strettle (England) 25-1, Mike Brown (England) 20-1 and
Simon Zebo (Ireland) 20-1.
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