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Rugby Union: Should You Back France to Win the Six Nations?


The common view is that France have an excellent chance of winning this year’s tournament, not least because they play three home games against Italy, this Sunday, and then against Ireland, the following weekend.

The French finish the competition against England in Paris on Saturday March 19th, so in that international they may well be playing for the Grand Slam or the Championship in the final Test of this Six Nations.

Given all the talent and flair in the French squad, it would be right to put money on them as they are equipped in both attack and defence to win the title for the first time since 2010.

Beating the All Blacks in November Boosted French Confidence

Anyone who saw the French beating the All Blacks at the Stade de France in Paris in November will understand why they are favourites, along with Ireland, to win the tournament.

In a thrilling Test, France beat New Zealand by 40-25 and the manner of their victory, combining adventure and solid defence, explained why the French not only have the potential to win the Six Nations but also the 2023 World Cup which favours them because it’s being held in France.

With world class players such as half backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, both of Toulouse, and full back Melvyn Jaminet, plus outstanding forwards like Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand and Gregory Alldrit, France are a dangerous team, particularly if they can sustain the right mental approach for the whole competition.

Watch Out for the Influence of Coach Shaun Edwards

Rugby fans and punters know that France can score exciting tries, but attack is only half their game. When Shaun Edwards left his coaching job with Wales and, foolishly, England showed little or no interest in hiring the former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star who’d moved so successfully into rugby union, France snapped him up, and what an impact Edwards has made as the defence coach.

Appointed in 2020, Edwards and head coach Fabien Galthie have produced and are developing a squad which surely must have the capability of achieving more than in 2021 when they lost to England and Scotland, but beat Italy, Ireland and Wales.

Victories in the autumn internationals against Argentina, Georgia and New Zealand should be the successful launching pad for this year’s Six Nations and the forthcoming World Cup, and as France start against weak Italy, whose last win in the competition was way back in 2015 against Scotland, the French will surely begin their campaign with a convincing win.

FRANCE IN THE 2022 SIX NATIONS

  • Sunday Feb 6th: v Italy in Paris
  • Saturday Feb 12th: v Ireland in Paris
  • Saturday Feb 26th: Scotland at Murrayfield
  • Friday March 11th: Wales in Cardiff
  • Saturday March 19th: v England in Paris
  • Get 6/4 on France to win Six Nations