Six Nations 2010: Week 3 Picks

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Last Updated on Friday, 26th Feb 2010, 

Written by jameshipwell

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Where is BetRepublic putting its money in Week 3 of this year's RBS Six Nations tournament?

England v Ireland
Date: Saturday, February 27
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 4pm GMT

Grand Slam champions Ireland sweep into Twickenham on Saturday with their reputation and unbeaten record of 2009 in tatters.

Heading so confidently into 2010 after a victory over South Africa and the draw with Australia last November, Ireland finally went off the rails in Paris a fortnight ago. The 33-10 defeat was described as 'demoralising' by a couple, a 'reality' by a couple of others and 'a kick up the ass' by Gordon D'Arcy.

England's ship is sailing in waters no calmer. Impressive against Wales, the lack of anything resembling an attacking strategy against Italy has come in for fierce criticism. Even Jonny Wilkinson is being told he is no good any more. What's that all about?

English rugby fans have become punishingly demanding the longer their drought goes on. It's not enough just to win any more. Seven years is long enough. There must be a Six Nations title, or a Grand Slam run, or a dominant victory, or... something, anything to make England believe all is well and right again.

The match is, in fact, leaning towards being between one team whose fans are too critical, and another whose fans are presenting an air of blind loyalty

You have to look critically at Ireland now, as must coach Declan Kidney. Taking a team that had yearned for a Grand Slam for so long to their holy grail is one thing, but the next step is to develop and keep things fresh. This has not been done. Both against France and, perhaps more pertinently, Italy, Ireland looked stale and unimaginative.

Italy in particular should have been finished off cleanly, but Ireland just could not break the shackles. The French sports model found an extra gear almost at will in Paris, whereas Ireland's machine looked more like a clunky diesel engine at times.

England's has rarely looked like anything else for a couple of years now, but it's not supposed to. The management and players make unashamed declarations that they are not there to win pretty. While this squad is being forged, results are all that matter - it's what confidence is built on.

That would be all very well if this were a bunch of fledgelings, but it's not. This is hardly a young bunch of promising players being brought on with a view to something special - this is a well-hardened tribe being hemmed in by stifling tactics. On the rare occasions England ran the ball against Italy, they actually looked pretty good - certainly as though they knew what they were about.

As the French showed, that is the way around Ireland. You find a way to match them up front and then it's the flourishes. England have the former, if they can find the latter, they are still on course for that Grand Slam, critics or not.

So where should the money be going to make it interesting? We have a sneaking feeling that Ireland are on the wane and that England's belligerence might exploit this so we think England should be able to sneak this game by 3-5 points.

For England, Riki Flutey looked to be the man most likely to spark something on that flat Valentine's Day in Rome. Ireland presents a different challenge, but assuming he can make another couple of breaks, he is our best prospect to score a try so it's worth having a small bet on him in the anytime tryscorer market.

BetRepublic Betting Recommendation:

2pts back England to beat reland at 21/20 with Boylesports
0.5pt Riki Flutey to score a try anytime at 4/1 with Boylesports, Paddy Power and Coral