Six Nations: Week Four Betting Tips

The 2024 Six Nations Championship reaches its penultimate round this weekend with games in Rome, London and Cardiff to look forward to.

Starting in the Eternal City, Scotland will be determined to keep their outside hopes of a maiden Six Nations title alive when they face Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 14:15.

After the dust has settled on the game in Rome, a mouthwatering encounter is on the cards at Twickenham from 16:45, with rivals England and Ireland going head-to-head.

The fourth round of fixtures is capped off on Sunday at the Principality Stadium, with Wales and France going toe-to-toe from 15:00.

Tip 1 - Scotland to win by 1-12 points @ 7/4

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Scotland in the Six Nations, with a nail-biting win over Wales in Cardiff, followed by the heartbreak of a controversial defeat to France, then a 30-21 win over old rivals England last time out.

Scotland will feel like they should still be on for the Grand Slam as they prepare their trip to Rome, but the TMO decision to rule out their late try against France at Murrayfield still lingers over this campaign.

A Calcutta Cup win by nine points over England, without playing their best rugby, was a mark of how far this Scotland side have come, but they face arguably a bigger test on Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico.

Italy will still be reeling after letting a famous win in France slip through their fingers, as the Azzurri battled it out for a 13-13 draw last time out.

It will be interesting to see how the Italians respond, but what is certain is that they will throw all they have at Scotland this weekend.

Discipline, like it was against France, will be key in this game and if either side are sloppy in that regard, the other team will take advantage.

While this game might well be tighter than a -11.5 handicap for the Scots might suggest, the visitors should still edge this one in Rome.

Scotland have won all of their last 13 meetings with Italy and are good value at 7/4 to win by a 1-12 point margin.

Tip 2 - Ireland to win by 1-12 points @ 31/20

There should be no stopping Ireland’s march towards unprecedented back-to-back Grand Slams on Saturday when they take on England at Twickenham.

Ireland have moved seamlessly into a new era after fly-half Jonathan Sexton hung up his boots after the 2023 World Cup, with Jack Crowley filling the role and bringing his own qualities to the No.10 jersey.

That change at stand-off is the only real difference from the side that cruised to the Grand Slam last season and they should have more than enough to beat England this weekend.

Steve Borthwick’s side conceded 30 points against the Scots in their Calcutta Cup defeat at Murrayfield last time out, with their blitz defence still taking time to settle in.

Ireland are a well-drilled side who know exactly how they can take the fight to England and expose an uncertain defence in the heart of their backline.

Again looking to the 1-12 point winning margin market, Ireland at 7/4 looks to be the way to go here.

Tip 3 - France to win by 13 points or more @ 2/1

France could and probably should have lost to Italy last time out, which just shows how far Fabien Galthie’s side have fallen in recent months.

From a team that were at one stage favourites to win last year’s World Cup on home soil, Les Bleus have now taken just one, controversial, win from their opening three games.

Sunday’s trip to the Principality Stadium does offer them the chance to get back to winning ways, against a young Welsh side who could get outmuscled in this one.

Conceding 74 points at an average of 24.6 points a game in the first three rounds, head coach Warren Gatland will have concerns about his team’s defence.

France must improve their discipline, after having had players shown red cards in the defeat to Ireland and draw with Italy.

If Les Bleus can improve in this area and keep 15 players on the field for the majority of the contest, they should have too much quality for this new-look Wales side.

Going with France to win by 13 or more points, as they did in the 41-28 win over Wales in their last meeting, is worth considering here at 2/1.