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France vs Ireland predictions
- Ireland +5.5 - 10/11 Betfred
- Peato Mauvaka to score a try at any time - 2/1 BetVictor
- Bundee Aki to score a try at any time - 16/5 BetUK
The 2024 Six Nations begins in some style at Marseille's atmospheric Stade Velodrome, where the last two champions, Ireland and France, will square off on Friday night (8pm, ITV1).
After crashing out of the Riugby World Cup at the quarter-finals stage as host, Les Bleus have backed existing head coach Fabien Galthie to move them forward towards their seventh title of the Six Nations Championship and go level with England in the all-time standings.
There’ll be a new feel to the French campaign as they move around the country, starting in Marseille before heading to Villeneuve-d'Ascq and Lyon whilst their usual Stade de France home undergoes renovations ahead of the Olympics.
Despite a tired and uninspired 32-19 loss to Ireland in Dublin during the second round of the 2023 Six Nations, rugby betting sites are anticipating Les Bleus will enact revenge, though they haven’t had a particularly easy time at home to the Irish in recent years.
Both sides are missing their figureheads in the retired Johnny Sexton and Olympic-bound Antoine Dupont, leading to a change in captaincy.
Despite the significant departures, these two are still ranked one and two to win the title in the Six Nations odds, with the winner of this fixture going on to claim the title each of the last two years.
Plucky Irish to make life difficult
This is being described as the World Cup final that never was but perhaps should have been, so we’re hoping for a contest that lives up to such a billing.
The now scrapped method of seeding for World Cups saw the four best nations in the world lumped into one half of the bracket, and as a result, France and Ireland were both narrowly ousted in the final eight despite playing some excellent pool stage rugby.
Ireland ended a three-game losing streak to France last year, but prior to that had lost in Paris by margins of just eight and six points.
In fact, one has to go way back to 2010 to find the last time that France recorded a double-digit win over the Irish on home soil, and in terms of changes to personnel, they’re probably a little worse off than the men in green with three-time Six Nations Player of the Tournament Dupont making himself unavailable.
France have lost just two of their last 30 matches on home soil, which is why we’re playing the handicap instead of the head-to-head, despite being confident in Ireland’s ability to pull out a big game.
Both will be desperate to erase their World Cup pain and Ireland’s determination to complete back-to-back Grand Slams makes them a dangerous opponent.
For our handicap bet on Ireland +5.5 to be successful, Ireland will either have to avoid defeat or lose by five points or less.
France vs Ireland Tip 1: Ireland +5.5 - 10/11 Betfred
Mauvaka to make the most of his start
Peato Mauvaka has been determined for quite some time now to become France’s starting hooker and took a big leap forward in doing so during the World Cup when an injury to Julien Marchand opened the door.
What we are most interested in as punters is his try scoring ability. In that regard, Mauvaka has a good record of crossing the whitewash before, during and after the World Cup for both club and country.
Mauvaka scored in three of his five World Cup appearances, as well as a summer warm-up game against Fiji, and has since followed up with tries in five of his 10 games for Toulouse, where he has also been fighting hard to be the number one choice.
Based on those recent numbers, the 2/1 offered by betting apps for Mauvaka to contribute to France’s points total could prove generous.
France vs Ireland Tip 2: Peato Mauvaka to score a try at any time - 2/1 BetVictor
Aki can pick up where he left off in France
Bundee Aki cut through defensive lines like a hot knife through butter at last year’s World Cup, winning the Irish Player of the Year award from the Rugby Writers of Ireland organisation and even a nomination for Player of the Year from World Rugby.
The 33-year-old became the first Connacht player in 30 years to win the former honour and, despite the heartbreak of having to return to Paris for the World Rugby ceremony as a nominee, says he’s never been in a better place ahead of a new international season.
Aki scored tries in four of six games for Ireland before and during the World Cup. Since returning to action for Connacht, he’s gone over against Ulster and Saracens, showing that he’s entering the new calendar year in excellent touch.
He’s 16/5 with gambling sites to continue his recent try-scoring success on French soil.
France vs Ireland Tip 3: Bundee Aki to score a try at any time - 16/5 BetUK
How to get a free bet on the Six Nations
The countdown to the start of the Six Nations is almost over but there’s still time to grab a free bet to wager on the tournament, or take advantage of one of the special rugby-related offers.
Parimatch are offering odds of 100/1 on England to win the Six Nations as part of a special welcome bonus. To take advantage of the price boost, bettors will need to open an account by clicking this link and make a minimum deposit of £5.
Remember to then opt in to the promotion before placing a maximum £1 bet on England in the Six Nations outright market. If England win the tournament, bettors will receive £2 in cash and £99 in free bets per the terms of the offer.
Make sure to read all the terms and conditions of the offer before signing up with Parimatch, who also offer a highly-rated UK casino, and if you are betting on the Six Nations this weekend, remember to do so responsibly.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
