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Six Nations Round 2 lessons and betting angles – England’s title hopes take a knock

England’s Six Nations title hopes took a heavy blow at Murrayfield as Scotland, inspired once again by Huw Jones, claimed a deserved 31–20 Calcutta Cup victory. Ireland steadied themselves with a nervy win over Italy in Dublin, while reigning champions France underlined their status as tournament favourites by dismantling Wales in Cardiff.

Six Nations – Saturday wrap and betting lessons

The headline act belonged to Huw Jones. Scotland’s centre continued his remarkable personal dominance over England, scoring twice to take his record to eight tries in eight Tests against the Auld Enemy. His first came via sharp footwork around Maro Itoje to finish a slick backline move, while his second was pure instinct — reacting quickest to a charged-down drop goal and sprinting away from halfway to secure the bonus-point try that put the result beyond doubt. Scotland were sharper, more accurate and ruthlessly clinical when chances appeared.

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Ireland, meanwhile, escaped with a 20–13 win over Italy, but the performance raised as many questions as it answered. Andy Farrell spoke about character, yet Ireland’s issues at scrum-time and fly-half remain glaring. The pack was again under pressure, and Sam Prendergast struggled to impose himself until Jack Crowley’s introduction transformed the tempo and confidence of the Irish attack. With England waiting at Twickenham, Ireland know incremental improvements may not be enough.

Six Nations Sunday wrap and betting lessons – France remain the benchmark

In Cardiff, Wales’ struggles deepened as France ran in eight tries in a 54–12 rout. The result itself was emphatic; the atmosphere was just as telling. A record-low Six Nations crowd at the Principality Stadium reflected a fan base growing weary after a prolonged run of defeats. France, by contrast, look relentless — physically dominant, expansive in attack, and utterly unfazed away from home.

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Betting takeaway

Scotland’s win reinforces their status as a side to back at Murrayfield, particularly against higher-ranked opposition. Their ability to convert pressure into tries — rather than simply points — makes bonus-point markets and Scotland team-try overs increasingly attractive.

Ireland’s victory papers over structural cracks. Until their scrum stabilises and the fly-half role is clearly settled, Ireland may struggle to justify short prices against elite opponents. Handicap markets against them, especially away from Dublin, deserve close scrutiny.

France continue to look like the most trustworthy betting proposition in the tournament. Their consistency, depth and attacking efficiency make them strong candidates for large winning margins, even on the road. As Wales’ confidence ebbs, opposing them on the handicap — particularly against top-tier sides — remains one of the clearest value angles in the Six Nations right now.

-AFP and AfricaPicks

Photo by Dan Mullan – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images
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