The 2015 Six Nations Championship could be one of the closest for a long time as the four nations who have won the tournament this century - England, Wales, Ireland and France - all look to be in with a decent shout. Here we bring you our betting tips and predictions as we try to pick out the winner, and we also have the latest live betting odds available to get you the best price whichever side you back.
Last year's runners-up, England, are the current favourites to win the 2015 Six Nations Championship after beating Australia and only narrowly losing to both South Africa and New Zealand during the Autumn Internationals. Priced at best betting odds of 7/4 with Bet365 and others, the market makers are pricing them as favourites on the basis that they appear to be going in the right direction after coming so close in the 2014 Six Nations (which they lost on points difference to champions Ireland).
There is no doubt that Stuart Lancaster's men have looked solid in the last year or so, but there is a key obstacle that lies in the way of the Three Lions doing the business this year: they must play away at both Wales and Ireland. When they last had to do that - in 2013 - they got hammered 30-3 in Cardiff, and though they fared better in Dublin, where they won 12-6, we feel the double challenge will be too much to overcome and as such odds of 7/4 are just too short.
Last year's winners, Ireland, are slightly longer in the betting at 15/8 with Ladbrokes, and much will depend on their home match against England. Their only tough away day will be when they travel to Wales, but in 2013 they mustered a fantastic 30-22 victory there and they are capable of repeating that achievement if they get off to a good start. After beating both Australia and South Africa in the autumn, we have to view Ireland as a much more promising prospect than England, at a similar price.
France are simply too unpredictable and aren't worth considering, even at odds of 13/2 with BetVictor, while Scotland and Italy will, we fear, be battling it out to avoid the wooden spoon.
Wales - who are priced at best betting odds of 7/2 with Paddy Power - might offer some value if they can rediscover the form that led them to become back to back Six Nations victors in 2012 and 2013. They lost - but were not disgraced - against Australia and New Zealand in the autumn, but they bounced back in their last game to beat South Africa 12-6. If they can get off to a winning start in their first match (against England) they could go well, but ultimately we think it will be Ireland defending their title and maybe even landing the Grand Slam too.