Defending champions Ireland will look to solidify their standing as the dominant force of the north with a convincing win over England in Dublin on Saturday.
Ireland v England
2 February 17h45
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
To Win (80 mins)
Ireland 1/4
Draw 21/1
England 3/1
Joe Schmidt’s men are riding high after a 2019 that saw them claim a Six Nations Grand Slam, a Test series win in Australia and a first-ever home win over the All Blacks. The only thing missing from the check list is a World Cup win, but first they must negotiate another tough Six Nations campaign.
Ireland come into the new campaign brimming with confidence and with the likes of holders Leinster, Munster and Ulster all having qualified for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals. Irish sides have consistently bettered their northern rivals for the last 18-odd months and that psychological edge cannot simply be ignored.
The Emerald Isle’s pragmatic, low-risk game plan built around forward dominance and astute tactical kicking has been instrumental to their meteoric rise. It powered them to a Grand Slam-clinching 24-15 win at Twickenham last year and they will expect more of the same this weekend.
England, meanwhile, will be in a fight to remain relevant in the race for the title after a lacklustre showing last year that saw them finish fifth. Eddie Jones and his coaching staff have come under immense scrutiny for a perceived lack of direction over the past 12-months and they have very little time to address their shortcomings.
With Sam Underhill ruled out of the tournament and the likes of Dylan Hartley, Chris Robshaw and Anthony Watson expected to miss the opening rounds, England will have their backs to the wall.
Verdict: Ireland 1/4
With dry conditions expected, Ireland’s power play and Johnny Sexton’s boot will see them open their Six Nations account with a win of 10-points or more.
