ZP and Six Nations Betting Preview 25-27 February

By Wellsaint
February 25 2005

Another exciting weekend of action ahead, with the third round of games in the Six Nations as well as another round of Premiership games including the biggie - Saints v Tigers. On the same weekend as the Six Nations. Stark, raving, mad, bonkers. Typical RFU, then (writes cheque for £2000)

Zurich Premiership Betting Preview Round 17

League matches on the same weekend as Six Nations games - complete madness.


Friday night


Worcester v Sale (live on Sky)

Worcester come into this game on the back of a win at Quins which lifts them to ninth place in the Premiership. I've said it before, I'll say it again - whoever else is going down it sure isn't Worcester, who have picked up a lot of bonus points for losing close games. Sale beat Leeds last weekend but will be without their England contingent for this game.

The bookies make Worcester around 6 point favourites for the game and I think that's about the mark - Ladbrokes made Worcester 3 point favourites but the price has been cut fairly heavily. I take Worcester to win this by 6 points. A speculative punt would be to bet the draw (i.e. Worcester to win by exactly six) - although I'll be giving this game a swerve myself.


Leeds v Saracens

Now here's a BIG game for Leeds - win, and they put pressure on both Saints and Quins - lose, and it's hard to see where the next win's coming from. Leeds' problems with the front row continue, and some hasty moves were made in the transfer market this week. Sarries lost somewhat unexpectedly against Irish last week - have they lost their way once more? This is a difficult one to call - and the bookies can't split them. Whatever way it goes, I think it will be won by 5 points or less. And my prediction of the likely winners? Saracens. Hopefully....


Saturday afternoon games


Bath v Harlequins

Quins desperately need some points from somewhere and meet Bath on a weekend when they will be without many first choice players. Even so, confidence at the Stoop must be at a low ebb after losing what many saw as one of the key relegation games last weekend, whilst Bath lost by the odd point in 33 at Kingsholm. If Bath had their full squad to choose from, I'd be predicting a fairly decisive win - even so, I think Quins will do well to take anything from this game. Bath by ten.


Saints v Leicester

Right. If you're looking for a rosy tinted spectacle view, I'd really recommend that you go on down to look at Sunday's match previews. In the words of Tubbs, "there's nothing for you here!"

OK. This is the situation: Leicester, top of the league, likely to be at the top of the league at the end of the season, fresh from putting 83, count them, eighty-three, points on Newcastle, come to Franklins Gardens to play a Saints team bottom of the league, on the back of three league defeats, including a thirty point tonking at the hands of Wasps.

Anyone who thinks we are going to win, please read that last paragraph again.

One theory doing the rounds is that as Leicester have lost a good number of players to the Six Nations squads that this is a seriously weakened squad. Yeh, right. Johnson, Back, L'il Austin, Gibson, Lloyd, to name but a few. Not weakened enough, I feel.

Saints continue with the 10-9 axis that by all accounts had a complete shocker last weekend, and the captaincy this week passes to Corne Krige (NOT an inspired choice in my opinion.) Yes, we have Ben back, but it comes to something when the return of one player is seen as crucial to the chances of likely success. There's no easy way to put this - I think we are going to get mullered. Seriously. Tigers by 15.


Sunday's games

London Irish v Wasps

Irish did their survival hopes no harm at all with their win at Vicarage Road whilst... You know the rest. Even without their England players Wasps should be able to beat Irish by around ten points.

Newcastle v Gloucester

Newcastle must have been wondering what had hit them last weekend, whilst Gloucester would have been celebrating the narrowist of narrow wins against Bath. Gloucester's form on the road tends to be very patchy - a heavy loss to Quins being a case in point. But can you back Newcastle after last weekend? Decisions, decisions... Newcastle by two.


Six Nations Games

Scotland v Italy

Scotland are typically 12 point favourites to beat Italy. Scotland seemed to be improved for a time last game against Ireland whilst Italy appeared to be going backwards a touch. With that in mind, Scotland -12 would be the pick, although the handicap's a little on the high side.

France v Wales

France are typically 7 point favourites and this will be a true test of how good Wales really are. I think that France can defy the handicap mark.

Ireland v England

Ireland are typically 4 point favourites for this game, but it is possible by shopping around to get them with a three or even two point handicap.

HELLO?!

How much of this Six Nations have your oddsmakers being watching? Ireland to beat -2, -3 or -4, frankly probably even -10 as well.