Six Nations top tryscorer odds and predictions: Van der Merwe a huge threat

Betting preview, top tryscorer tips & analysis for the Six Nations, which starts when Italy host France at 2.15pm Saturday.

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Duhan van der Merwe top tournament tryscorer
1pt each-way 14-1 bet365

Antoine Dupont top tournament tryscorer
1pt each-way 18-1bet365, Betfred

After a few seasons when wingers did their job and stole the tryscoring limelight in the Six Nations, a back-row forward got in on the act last year as Charles Ollivon of France plundered four tries to top the charts, while Wales flanker Justin Tipuric also got in the places with three.

Back-three players head the betting as usual. England's Jonny May is a difficult man to stop, Teddy Thomas of France, Ireland's James Lowe and Scotland captain Stuart Hogg are all prominent, but there's also a new name in the mix with plenty of promise.

Duhan van der Merwe top tournament tryscorer 14-1

The Durban-born Edinburgh winger qualified for Scotland through residency last autumn and hit the ground running with a try on his debut against Georgia.

His tally stands at three tries from four starts and his physical presence makes him a dangerous ball-carrier in a strong back three.

Chances may be limited in their opening clash against England, who will look to their powerful pack to dominate possession and territory, but with creative fly-half Finn Russell back in the number ten shirt, Scotland will want to unleash their backs and improve on their low points return of 2020.

In the last two odd-numbered years - when Scotland have had the same mix of opponents home and away - they have registered 14 tries. As a point of contrast that's more than they managed in three consecutive tournaments from 2010 to 2012.

Full-back Hogg is a marked man these days but Van der Merwe is more of an unknown quantity for opposition defences and looks set to feature heavily.

Antoine Dupont top tournament tryscorer 18-1

Tryscoring scrum-halves are worth looking out for - Conor Murray and Danny Care have both finished in the places in the last five years - and although France number nine Dupont is a shorter price than either of those, that's because of his tremendous pace and eye for a gap.

The Toulouse player bagged a brace against Wales last October and then opened the scoring in France's final Six Nations match against Ireland. He also scored against Ulster in Toulouse's only European Champions Cup game this season.

There are plenty of dangermen in the France backline but Dupont is so often the man in the right place, either behind his powerful pack or using his pace to support breaks.

Top pointscorer

Owen Farrell is a short-priced favourite and will starts at fly-half against Scotland in round one having been used to lining up at outside centre with George Ford at fly-half.

England are clearly expecting to score plenty of tries and win penalties through their powerful pack so it's hard to argue with his position at the top of the market, but odds ranging from evens to 6-4 don't set the pulse racing.

Mathieu Jalibert, Jonathon Sexton and Dan Biggar are the chasing pack but it's hard to pick out one above the other.

Leigh Halfpenny could be a big price at 25-1 given he is likely to start against Ireland due to Liam Williams' suspension but he will probably leave most goalkicking duties to Dan Biggar.

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