Six Nations Free Bets abound this weekend and rugby union betting enthusiasts will have spotted that things didn’t go quite according to plan last week. Well, England’s plan anyway. A smooth and expected early lead was achieved over the Welsh and England sauntered into the half-time dressing room with a comfortable 16-6 margin in the bag. Then, with depressing predictability, in the second half the English malaise kicked in and Wales calmly ended a twenty year wait to put the Hoorays in their place. Under the pounding of the Welsh attack, England succumbed to a total breakdown of confidence and were reduced to a pack of headless chickens.
 
Online betting fans will look at the table and see only two of the expected three teams nestling comfortably at the top. After last year’s World Cup, it was always going to be an England/France thing with Wales snapping at their ankles while Ireland, Scotland and Italy scuffled to avoid the Wooden Spoon. This Saturday and Sunday should see France and Wales with comfortable wins and, thankfully, England have the chance to work through problems with their Italy encounter.
 
Much wringing of hands has occurred since last Saturday and calls for Wilkinson to be replaced by Cipriani resound in the press . . .  youth must be brought in to counter the arrogant presumption that England will always rule etc etc. There’s some truth in this but, for me, watching the England display was reminiscent of Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters when he broke down on the back nine on the last day.
 
Analysts need to look into the reasons why our nation produces teams and individuals who crack under any sign of strain. Football, tennis, cricket – whatever the sport we watch and wait for the collapse. Until we grasp the implications of that, it is not a new manager or coach that’s needed in the dressing room but perhaps rather Paul McKenna; sports betting devotees will continue to suffer a peculiarly English disappointment.