England expected to secure Six Nations victory

ENGLAND ARE the 15/8 favourites with Ladbrokes to win the Six Nations.

They are also the well-backed 4/7 favourites to win a mouthwatering opening clash against Wales on Friday night, who are 11/8 to register their first win of the tournament.

The firm have also priced up a number of specials for the curtain raiser, with Dylan Hartley a 12/1 shot to receive a yellow card in that game. It’s 66/1 he gets sent off and England are also 25/1 to be awarded a penalty try at the scrum.

Ladbrokes also guarantee to be top price about all of the home nations for both the Championship and the Triple Crown from 8am onwards on Friday as the tournament looks as competitive as ever.

Italy take on Ireland in their opening game and are 9/2 to register a win on home soil, with the Irish 1/8 to land the spoils. France are also odds-on (1/10) to account for Scotland (11/2) at the Stade de France.

The Italians are the 4/11 favourites to land the wooden spoon with Wales 9/1 chances. England’s Chris Ashton is the 6/1 favourite to be the top tournament try scorer with Welsh winger Shane Williams the 10/1 second favourite.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “Punters have the faith in England’s new look side and also expect them to get off the mark against Wales on Friday night. The intense atmosphere inside the Millennium Stadium will make for a great game and we can’t rule out tempers flaring on the night either.”

Ladbrokes latest betting
Wales – 11/8
Draw – 18/1
England – 4/7

Italy – 9/2
Draw – 22/1
Ireland – 1/8

France – 1/10
Draw – 22/1
Scotland – 11/2

2011 Six Nations Winner
England – 15/8
France – 9/4
Ireland – 11/4
Wales – 7/1
Scotland – 16/1
Italy – 250/1

Triple crown
England – 11/4
Ireland – 7/2
Wales – 11/2
Scotland – 16/1
No winner – 6/4

Wooden Spoon
Italy – 4/11
Scotland – 4/1
Wales – 9/1
Ireland – 20/1
France – 40/1
England – 50/1

Top tournament try scorer
Chris Ashton – 6/1
Shane Williams – 10/1
Maxime Medard – 10/1
Mark Cueto – 11/1
Keith Earls – 12/1
Yohan Huget – 16/1
Ben Foden – 18/1
Aurelien Rougerie – 20/1

England v Wales match specials

Dylan the villain
Dylan Hartley to receive a Yellow Card vs Wales – 12/1
Dylan Hartley to receive a Red Card vs Wales – 66/1

That Wood be a Debut to Remember
Tom Wood Man of the Match vs Wales – 16/1

Wales Props to Pay the Penalty
England Penalty Try at Scrum – 25/1

Scarlet Fever
Morgan Stoddart and Jonathan Davies both to score vs England – 25/1

Hook Line and Sinker
(Wales must not be winning when James Hook scores and it is the last scoring play)
James Hook to score winning points vs England – 33/1