Time for a tight Six Nations championship

The last three Six Nations Champions have lifted the trophy as Grand Slam winners. Seven of the last nine winners have not lost a match and although France and Wales have accounted for five of these slam victories, the championship has not seen a recent period of domination, but rather a pattern of different teams hitting hot form each season.

This hasn’t always been the case. Triple Crown wins, let alone Grand Slam triumphs, were rare in the 1950s and 1960s. Four slams were won in the 1970s and 1980s, six in the Anglo-French era of the 1990s.

Hopes of a close championship in 2011 are high. None of the participants were impressive in their most recent matches: England and Wales lost to South Africa and New Zealand respectively, whilst France were hammered 59-16 by Australia in Paris. Ireland, Scotland and Wales produced limp displays in beating Argentina, Samoa and Fiji respectively. The Six Nations betting shows just how tight the race for the title will be.

No one will start the championship in Grand Slam form, as the likely winners share the same frailty of inconsistency. England’s stirring win over Australia, combined with France’s capitulation against the same opponents, has made Martin Johnson’s men narrow favourites in the rugby betting to lift the trophy for the first time since 2003.

However, England have injury concerns, and uncertainty in the management structure that cannot help the coach’s preparations. The feeling that anybody can beat anybody (apart from perhaps Italy) is further enhanced by the championship-ending injury to Welsh key man Gethin Jenkins. Wales also have injury doubts over Shane Williams and George North.

This Six Nations Championship could go the wire, with the final round of matches shaping up to be a potential shoot-out for the trophy – France entertain Wales in the final match of the tournament, just after Ireland have played England.