The Six Nations also gets underway this weekend and runs through to the March 18th. Defending Six Nations champions and this year’s favourites England, who are unbeaten in 14 matches under the stewardship of Eddie Jones, get their campaign underway on Saturday at Twickenham against France. Six Nations second favourites Ireland face a tough start their campaign against an in form Scotland team at Murrayfield and on Sunday Wales travel to Italy.

If England can overcome their current injury problems to key players like former skipper Chris Robshaw and prop Mako Vunipola, who are ruled out this weekend, and linchpin No 8 Billy Vunipola, prop Joe Marler and back row James Haskell who are all major doubts, they should justify favouritism and defend their title. However, at the prices I’d rather be a layer than a backer of England. A team I’ll be following closely and siding with on the handicaps when they are outsiders is Scotland (25/1 Six Nations), who have made significant improvements and were highly competitive last season, and are worth a small bet for the Six Nations.