The bookmakers' rugby experts give their views on how the tournament will unfold

We asked the bookmakers' odds-compilers to give us their views on who they think will win the Six Nations, where punters have been putting their money, and for their best bet on any market in the tournament.

bet365
Ian Morley

Ireland seem decent value. They have two home games to start with to help rebuild their confidence after a disappointing World Cup showing followed by a trip to Twickenham, where they will fancy their chances.

France have been backed down from 16-1 and they’ll shorten quite a bit further should they get the better of England in a mouth-watering opener.

Best bet: Garry Ringrose seems decent each-way value in the top tryscorer market having scored for fun for Leinster in their Champions Cup campaign.

Betfair
Jamie Arnold

A first-round win in Paris will set up England for a Grand Slam bid if they can dispatch a youthful French side and reclaim the Calcutta Cup in round two. Home games against Ireland and Wales follow before a trip to Rome to maintain the tournament Grand Slam trend.

Punters are getting behind France and their new golden pool of talent. Fabien Galthie takes the reins in search of their first Six Nations title since 2010. The fixture list is favourable with three home matches, including their opening two.

Best bet: Owen Farrell to score the most points in the championship. The England captain was a comfortable winner in this market last year and Saracens sharp-shooter looks nailed on to retain the award.

Betfred
Alan Firkins

England had a brilliant World Cup but were found wanting in the final. That will have been a chastening experience for Eddie Jones and we expect a strong reaction to that 20-point defeat.

As recently as November you could have had 20-1 about France but at the start of this week they were just 6-1. A lot is expected from defensive genius Shaun Edwards, working alongside new coach Fabien Galthie.

Best bet: England to win the Triple Crown. They visit Murrayfield to play Scotland, but both Ireland and Wales must come to Twickenham. That programme looks eminently do-able.

Betway
Chad Yeomans

England have the biggest and best squad of any team and can take their strong World Cup campaign into the Six Nations. They play Ireland and Wales at Twickenham, so I don’t see them being troubled there. They should beat Italy and brush aside a Scottish side in turmoil with arguably their best player, Finn Russell, potentially missing the campaign. Their toughest game will be their opener against France in Paris and I believe only France can prevent England from winning a Grand Slam.

Punters have been getting stuck into France, who have a very good side, and if they can get past England in the opener then they could be in with a shout. They are our biggest loser in the book - other than Italy, but they won't win it. A fair few punters backed Scotland at to finish bottom.

Best bet: England to win the Grand Slam and an England-France dual forecast.

BoyleSports
Matthew McNabb

Given how well Leinster are playing, confidence will be high in the Ireland camp and under Andy Farrell they will be able to make enough changes to right the wrongs from the World Cup.

The money has been firmly for the favourites, England, and with the exciting squad France have named they have been also been well backed.

Bet bet: No Grand Slam winner – given the number of changes in the squads after the World Cup any one team will struggle to put in five straight big performances.

Coral
Mark Warrington

It's hard to see past England given they are playing Ireland and Wales at home, but maybe France have a chance after getting rid of some of their old guard.

England have been backed since the World Cup but we expect to see more money this week.

Best bet: Teddy Thomas to be the tournament's top tryscorer.

Ladbrokes
Andrew Wildig

Wales and Ireland have coaching changes and France are constructing a new squad. England have a good fixture list and a strong team coming off a World Cup final appearance, and they look the winners.

France are attracting some money with their new coaches and a new squad, but I imagine that may well change by kick-off.

Best bet: Owen Farrell to be the tournament's top points scorer.

Paddy Power
Darren Jordan

England will be looking to right the wrongs of the World Cup final and pick up their first major silverware in three years. While they are less of a cert due to some of their coaching changes, there are far fewer holes to pick in their chances than other teams.

France are by far and away the most popular selection with punters. While their fresh young squad is extremely exciting, we can’t help feel that it points towards a four-year plan focusing on their home World Cup and their short term prospects will be hampered as a result.

Best bet: Scotland to finish bottom Following a terrible World Cup, Gregor Townsend faces massive pressure and Finn Russell’s antics highlight the discontent in camp. They travel to Rome to face an Italy side who will be targeting them in looking to pick up their first Six Nations win since 2015

RedZone
Stephen Baumohl

Le Crunch is back, and I think the winners of the France v England match in round one can carry that success through to lift the trophy. Les Bleus look the value at current prices.

There has been plenty of support for England after an encouraging World Cup campaign and some coaching turnover among their rivals.

Best bet: Scotland to finish bottom. Wooden-spoon favourites Italy will be targeting their clash with the Scots as their best chance of avoiding another basement finish.

Sky Bet
Steven Johnson

Ireland had a lot of injury problems going into the World Cup and didn’t do themselves justice. Favourites England have lost key players such as Billy Vunipola and the off-field issues at Saracens could cause a distraction, so I think the teams should be closer in price and the Irish look value.

Wales are popular after last year’s success but the big move in the outright book has been for France, whose young stars Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and numerous hard-hitting forwards have forced a move from 16-1 to 11-2.

Best bet: Louis Rees-Zammit to be top Wales tryscorer. He has electric pace and has been scoring tries for fun at Gloucester. It looks like last week’s injury scare was just that and with George North playing centre at club level in recent weeks Rees-Zammit could very easily start on the wing.

Sporting Index
Andrew Sinfield

England boast more than enough depth in most positions, and have the stability of players and coaching staff that the other teams don’t have, so they should win.

Our punters are getting with France at the moment. There’s optimism surrounding the core of undoubted young talent that the French have picked.

Best bet: It could be pretty open. The clouds surrounding England over the Saracens situation and a World Cup hangover, plus the absence of Billy Vunipola all make me think they might struggle to win five games. I’d expect the rest to beat each other, meaning that no Grand Slam at odds-against looks more than fair.

William Hill
Chris Ball

The fixtures favour England and they will probably win but at the prices I’d have to side with Wales.

It’s reflected in the odds but France have a strong squad this year. It's true that we could say that most years but punters are hoping this year is the one.

Best bet: No Grand Slam. It’s an open-looking year with question marks over every team. I also like CJ Stander to be top tryscorer each-way at some very big prices.

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