The Calcutta Cup is the promised prize this weekend, as ancient rivalries are revisited for a pulsating 80 minutes of passionate rugby as Murrayfield hosts the Scotland v England betting and kicks off the RBS 6 Nations 2012 tournament. This has to be the closest betting match between Scotland and England in decades.

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It’s not quite the final most of us would have wished for, especially considering Wales’ hard luck story last week, however this is an appealing battle of the hemispheres as the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final will be contested between France and New Zealand.

New Zealand, probably one of the most stand-out teams of the Rugby World Cup betting, represent free flowing attacking rugby which is now synonymous with Southern Hemisphere Rugby. They’ve already wiped the floor with France in their Pool A match with a powerful 37-17 victory.

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It’s crunch time tomorrow morning (Saturday 1st October) in New Zealand as England v Scotland meet in what is a crucial, do-or-die Pool B match. England v Scotland betting has Martin Johnson’s side as favourites to win the game and progress into the last eight. It’s a tougher ask for Scotland as they’ll need to beat England by 8 points to win the group and hope that Argentina lose.

With hosts New Zealand waiting for the runners-up in Pool B it’s imperative for both England and Scotland to win Pool B and avoid facing the All-Black’s.

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New Zealand will welcome rugby nations from the North and South Hempispheres to compete for the 7th Rugby World Cup starting on the 10th of September 2011. Over seven weeks, the best players from the world of rugby union will have rugby world cup betting fans getting behind their national country and roaring them on to success.

New Zealand joint hosted the first ever Rugby World Cup back in 1987 with Australia. They successfully won that tournament back then, however, the All-Blacks have never repeated that achievement since. Although they did make the final only to be defeated by South Africa in 1995.

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Last time the Scots marched South of the Border and won a game of Rugby at Twickenham we all woke up to Roland the Rat on our TV screens in the morning, Shergar was captured by the IRA and the Tories romped home in a landslide General Election. That 1983 Calcutta Cup victory by the Scots (12-22) saw England end a dismal 5 Nations Championship picking up the unenviable acclaim of Wooden Spoon holders.

Nigh on 30 years later, England are on course for a Grand Slam. Scotland at home (Sunday, 13 March 2011) and Ireland away (Saturday, 19 March 2011) stand in their way.

For those that believe in Omens, the Scots head to Twickenham on the back of 3 straight defeats (France, Wales and Ireland) similar to when they last won the Calcutta Cup back in 1983. OK, perhaps this is grasping at straws in trying to draw conclusions with the current set-up and that famous win 28 years ago. But Scotland have nothing to fear, but everything to prove, as the players will know that a good display could cement their place in the Scots squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Plus the added bonus of stopping England’s Grand Slam attempt.

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There is an exciting edge to this years RBS 6 Nations tournament with the 2011 Rugby World Cup also taking place at the start of September in New Zeland. England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales will be using the squad selection for the 6 Nations as a reinforcement as to whom they’ll be choosing to travel to the Rugby World Cup.

As the excitement begins to build towards the 6 Nations kick off, much has been written regarding the two way tussle for the 6 Nations crown between England and France. Will France impose another Grand Slam (best odds of 13/5 from Totesport) achievement despite rumours and papertalk of massive infighting in the French camp? Or will England (best odds of 7/4 from Victor Chandler) rediscover the form that won them their last 6Nations title back in 2003?

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It doesn’t get much more meatier than a Scotland vs England Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield. This Saturday the 13th of March sees these two “Auld Enemies” once again lock horns in the second last weekend of the 6 Nations Championship. This year Scotland are once again playing for pride, while England have an outside chance of winning the competition as long as they prevail against the Scots and then carry that momentum forward to Paris against a very strong and fast French side.

Perhaps, it is a game too far for England, to even conceive that they will win in France but by a handsome scoreline as well, leaves most Six Nations betting punters shaking their heads at the task ahead. Still, England have to overcome the Scots on their own turf, something they haven’t been too good at in recent years.

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It’s Six Nations time again, as the Northern Hemisphere’s most important Rugby Union tournament kicks off this Saturday. Plenty of Six Nation betting questions will soon be answered. Can Ireland repeat their Grand Slam success of last year? Can England mount a serious challenge and start going forward instead of backwards? Can Wales overcome Ireland and England in their own backdoors and become champions once again? Can France play to their strengths and repeat their 2007 Six Nations success? Can Scotland put to bed that ‘potential’ tag and start winning games instead of throwing them away. Can this be Italy’s year where they finally stamp their arrival into the Six Nations?

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This weekend sees the second round of games for Rugby Unions European Cup also widely known as the Heineken Cup. 24 teams from 6 nations will contest for this premier prize. Last years winners, Leinster (Ireland) have already gotten off to a shaky start to the defence of their title. Beaten 9 – 12 at home to London Irish (England), now Leinster must pick themselves up for a tough away match to Brive (France) who also lost their opening game.

Munster (Ireland) and Toulouse (France) are the early Heineken Cup betting favourites. Munster, although, lost their opening away game against a fighting Northampton Saints 31 – 27, but should win, with home backing, against shock troops, Benetton Treviso (Italy), whom they outclassed easily 51 – 0, when the sides last met at Munster’s home ground.

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If your an Irish rugby fan then this weekend can’t come quick enough for you. It has been 61 years since the last time Ireland recorded a Grand Slam and this Saturday (21st March) Ireland can eventually lay that ghost to rest … well, that is if they beat Wales on their own patch, never an easy thing to do. The message coming out of the Welsh camp is plain and simple : “We dislike the Irish more than any other 6 Nations team”, a cloaked compliment indeed. Wales just need to beat the Irish by 13 points to retain the 6 Nations Championship. Come Saturday, one of these two teams shall be master of the northern hemisphere rugby nations, whether its the inspirational Irish or the Welsh wizards, will soon enough be revealed.

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