Six Nations 2025: SportyTrader’s Selection of this Year’s Table
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Ireland Is The Team To Beat in the 2025 Six Nations Championship
While there was very little to separate Ireland and France on the betting boards ahead of the competition, the Shamrocks are now the clear front runners to defend their Six Nations title, having won both their matches in the competition. Following France’s loss to England in that dramatic ending at Twickenham in round two, Les Bleus’ chances of clinching the title plummeted from 29% to 4% according to Opta Stats.
Notably, that result also saw England’s chances at the tournament rise. The Red Roses originally came into the Six Nations as the fourth favourite behind Ireland, France and Scotland, but they are now being given a 61% chance of finishing as runners-up. Steve Borthwick’s men were unable to overcome the Irish this season as they did last, losing 27-21 in the opening round, but having now played the two early tournament favourites, they have a fairly straightforward run-in with the Calcutta Cup likely to be their toughest assignment.
The 2025 Six Nations is widely expected to be decided in week four when France travel to the iconic Aviva Stadium in Dublin to face Ireland. By their own admission, Les Bleus were some way from their best in their defeat at Twickenham and will need significant improvement if they are to be able to overcome the mighty Irish on their home patch. If they lose the match, their hopes of winning back the title will likely come to an end, given that Ireland are massively favoured to beat Wales in round three.
Speaking of Wales - Warren Gatland’s side are in all sorts of trouble, as they ended 2024 with a crushing defeat to the Springboks in the Autumn internationals, which was the 12th consecutive loss in a row. The Dragons' current losing streak (14) is the longest in their history and their opening match of this year could hardly have gone worse, as they crumbled against the French, losing the match 43-0 at the Stade de France. However, the real concern came a week later when they were beaten by Italy 22-15 at the Stadio Olimpico in a match that was widely considered their best chance of ending their dismal downward spiral. Wales are now the out-and-out favourites to receive the Wooden Spoon again this year.
Italy have made giant strides forward over the last 18 months, and their 2024 Six Nations campaign was undoubtedly their best ever, as they not only avoided the Wooden Spoon for the first time in eight years but did so by beating Wales and Scotland while holding France to a remarkable 13-13 draw, which ultimately ended Les Bleus’ chances of winning the tournament. Over 11 matches in 2024, Gli Azzurri won five and drew one - their best record in recent memory - and they could still cause a few upsets before this season’s Six Nations is complete, starting this weekend when Antoine Dupont and co arrive in Rome for round three.
As for Scotland, many consider their current crop of players to be the best they have seen since their 1999 Five Nations triumph. During round two, both Duhan van der Merwe (102) and Damian Penaud (100) broke the 100 defenders beaten tally in the Six Nations to join the likes of Brian O’Driscoll (163), Stuart Hogg (162), George North (142), Rob Kearney (104) and Gael Fickou (100), who have crossed the 100-mark. However, the big question for the Bravehearts is whether they have the depth to carry them through, especially following the loss of captain Sione Tuipulotu, whose absence was evident in the defeat to Ireland in the last round.
With all of the above in mind, we end with Ireland, who we fancy to win the 2025 Six Nations Championship. The Shamrocks looked a class above Scotland at Murrayfield in their last outing, and they are now riding a five-match win streak dating back to the start of November. The only teams to beat interim boss Simon Easterby’s side in the last two years are New Zealand, who did so twice - in the World Cup quarter-final and the Autumn Tests - and world champions South Africa during the mid-year internationals at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. It is also worth pointing out that Ireland retained possession from all 23 of their lineouts against England in the opening round, the most of any team to maintain a 100% success rate in a Six Nations Rugby match since Italy joined the Championship in 2000.
SportyTrader’s 2025 Six Nations Table Selection
- Ireland - Champions
- England - Runners-up
- France - Third Place
- Scotland - Fourth Place
- Italy - Fifth Place
- Wales - Wooden Spoon
