Six Nations Rugby Betting 2008

Six Nations Betting Preview :

England will launch their 2008 Six Nations campaign against Wales at Twickenham on February 2. England last won the Six Nations title in 2003 and will be looking to repeat this success with the newly found vigour of their World Cup campaign. Away games to Italy, France and Scotland precede their final fixture when they will host Ireland at Twickenham on March 15. The schedule will, once again, feature two ?Super Saturdays? with three games being played on February 23 and three on March 15.

This format has been criticised by Ireland coach, Eddie O?Sullivan who felt that France, sharing equal points with Ireland, had an unfair advantage with a later kick-off on the final day of last year?s event. This scenario will be repeated on the last day of the forthcoming tournament, with France playing the later game against Wales after the England v. Ireland match has concluded at Twickenham.

Six Nations Betting - Up in the Air

Jack Laurans, Chairman of the Six Nations, has observed that, ?Such is the level of competitiveness in this competition, it is incapable of prediction. I predict that, having seen England?s determination in the World Cup, there would be worse places to invest your money than in this National team who have yet to discover a limit to their vigour and commitment to victory.?

About the Six Nations Tournament

The Six Nations is an international rugby union tournament whose origins can be traced back to 1871 as a four?nation event comprising matches between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. France joined the fray in 1910 and the event had become the Five Nations. Italy was invited in 2000 and the Six Nations era had begun.

Played annually, the format of the Championship is simple; each team plays every other team once, with home field advantage alternating from one year to the next. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. If a team gains victory in each of its matches this is a ?Grand Slam?. Back to back ?Grand Slams? have occurred on five occasions but only twice in recent times: England in 1991/1992 and by France in 1997/1998.

Victory by any Home Nation over all three of the others is awarded the ?Triple Crown?. England achieved four consecutive Triple Crowns in 1995-1998 inclusive and hold the record for the number won with 23. Also contested within the tournament is the Calcutta Cup contested between England and Scotland. Since 1988, the Millennium Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the game between England and Ireland. The Guiseppe Garibaldi Trophy is bestowed upon the winner of the France v. Italy match.

Prior to 1994, teams equal on points shared the Championship. After that the winner was declared on the basis of points differences.

Rugby Union has undergone something of a renaissance following the magnificent efforts of the England team to reach the final in the 2007 World Cup, only to be thwarted by South Africa at the final hurdle. Normally disinterested observers, buoyed by the team?s extraordinary commitment and undernourished following other English sporting failures, suddenly took respectful notice of a sport where donning the national shirt appeared to actually mean something special to the wearer.

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