ZP and 6N Betting Preview 4-6 Feb incl

By Wellsaint
February 4 2005

The Six Nations starts this weekend whilst Round 15 of the Zurich Premiership continues alongside. Quite how long this can continue to happen in the professional era I don't know; but I feel it devalues the club games. A solution is needed. Talking of solutions, who's going to win this weekend?

Zurich Premiership Betting Preview Round 15
plus 6 Nations Betting Previews for Week 1

Too many games, too little time. Let's look at the league action first.
It's a week in which all the games look tight, and with many teams affected
by international call ups the best advice is to tread carefully


Worcester v Leeds

An important game this for both sides, possibly more so for Worcester, who
I guess would be targeting this as a winnable game. Leeds will be affected
more by call ups than Worcester and therefore I take Worcester to win by
five points.

Bath v Leicester - live on Sky, 7.30 pm Sat

A very hard game to call in the circumstances - Bath seem to be coming back
into form whilst Leicester will be without their internationals. Not one
for the mortgage - Bath, narrowly by 2 points.

Harlequins v Gloucester

Of the three teams at the bottom of the table possibly Harlequins have the
hardest task, as they play host to Gloucester. That said, Gloucester's form
has been a little inconsistent this season. Nethertheless, I feel that
Gloucester are the more likely winners, by a margin of six points.

Saints v Sarries

A very hard game to call. Sarries are coming back into form and were
impressive last week against Newcastle, whilst Saints played with spirit
before losing to Sale. This must surely have been targeted as a likely win
but Sarries have improved markedly under Steve Diamond and what may have
been considered a fairly easy four/five pointer (if such a thing still
exists as far as Saints are concerned!) is now a game that's almost too
tight to call. Sarries bring an experienced side to the Gardens whilst
Saints welcome back Air Bruce and Air Shine. As I said, almost too tight
to call, but call it we must - Saints by four.

Newcastle v Wasps

Wasps seem to be in something of a slump at present and I'm not sure that
Newcastle is the place you want to be visiting in such circumstances. I
take Newcastle to grind out a narrow win by three points.

London Irish v Sale

London Irish have the advantage of meeting Sale on a weekend when their
team will be affected more than most by call ups. I still think that Sale
should be able to sneak a win by five points.


Six Nations Games

France v Scotland (handicap betting: France 24 point favs)

France should be able to win this with something to spare - I can't see
Scotland getting anything other than a serious whupping. France by 35.

Italy v Ireland (handicap betting: Ireland 16 point favs)

Ireland are my fancy to win the 6N this year and they should be able to
get off to a good start in the Eternal City and win by around 25 points.

Wales v England (handicap betting: England 6 point favs)

Now, here's the hard one to call - in part, anyway. I believe this will
be an extremely close match, and that the winning point margin will be
less than five points. Trouble is, I'm not sure who the winner's going
to be! Wales enter this game with possibly their best chance in years of
beating England. Andy Robinson's new-look side would have preferred this
game later in the tournament I think: the Milennium Stadium is not the
place you really want to try essentially a new-look team out for the first
time. For betting purposes, taking the points start on Wales looks the
safer option; as for who will win: head or heart? England or Wales?
(I can't sit on the fence can I, I'll only get splinters in my...) -
England by three.