We can all relax again
Ireland wore the Six Nations favourites' tag for all of three weeks but we are now back behind Stuart Lancaster's England when it comes to betting for the outright winner of this year's tournament.
Injuries to the likes of Joe Launchbury, Manu Tuilagi and Owen Farrell had seen England slip behind Ireland, when it came to punters lumping on their hard-earned money. However, England's impressive away win over Wales, last Friday, has elevated them to the top of the betting table.
A scan of the
leading bookmakers has an England championship win available at 5/6, 10/11 or Evens. Ireland have not altered too much from their 15/8 starting price, ahead of their 26-3 win over Italy.
The English win in Cardiff has also given them a
points boost in the world rankings. Ireland have slipped to fourth in the rankings, with Lancaster's men up to third. France, Ireland's opponents this weekend, remain seventh.
New Zealand still lead the way from South Africa. A Grand Slam win, however, would see either England or Ireland displace the Springboks as the second ranked side behind the All Blacks.
