Dean Etheridge
We’re now just three weeks away from the start of the 2023 Six Nations competition, and here we look ahead to the competition and give our verdict on France’s prospects of claiming back to back Grand Slams in our latest rugby betting picks.
- What; 2023 Six Nations
- When; Saturday, February 4th – Saturday, March 18th
- Competing Teams; France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Italy
France are the defending champions, having won their first Six Nations crown for 12 years in 2022.
Paris is celebrating tonight🏆
France the 2022 Grand Slam winners #GuinnessSixNations | #FRAvENG pic.twitter.com/IgQjsAC48f
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 19, 2022
Les Bleus won in style last time out, also completing the Grand Slam. This year they will be looking for back to back titles, but also may have more than half an eye on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, coming later this year on French soil.
In short, this is a huge year for France, probably their biggest ever from a Rugby Union perspective. They have more than a great chance of winning both the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.
So, can they handle the pressure? And with the Six Nations coming up first, do the French use it to prepare for the World Cup? Or do they simply bust a gut to win it, and then deal with the consequences and turn attention to the Rugby World Cup afterwards?
It will be interesting to see what the approach of the French will be over the next few weeks.
2023 Six Nations Outright Winner Betting
Due to the quirky nature of the Six Nations format, despite being widely regarded as the best side in the competition (the Irish might rightly take me to task on that view), the French are not the favorites.
The best rugby betting sites make Andy Farrell’s Ireland +140 to win outright. The French are next at +175, with England third at +450. Wales, back under the guidance of Warren Gatland, are next at +1600, with Scotland at +2500, and Italy at +40000.
The main reason for Ireland being favorites is because in the Six Nations teams only play each other once. This means home and away fixtures alternate every year.
Last year France played Ireland and England in Paris. This year, they will be playing Ireland in Dublin, and England in London. This makes the French’s task all the more difficult.
What is the Grand Slam in Six Nations Rugby?
As the teams only play each other once, this means each side plays a total of five games in the competition. In order to win the Grand Slam, a team has to win all five of their matches. So in effect, a Grand Slam is a clean sweep of wins, or a lockout.
It is possible to win the competition without the Grand Slam, as teams can all beat each other. Meaning whoever has the most points wins the competition.
WAL 25-7 IRE
Wales have done it! Capturing the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam in Cardiff with their 14th win on the bounce.
Diweddglo chwedlonol i'r ymgyrch Chwe Gwlad, wedi ei sefydlu ar waith caled a chyfeillgarwch.
🏴 #HWFN #ForTheJersey pic.twitter.com/nA5XgpNLEz
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 16, 2019
In recent years only France (2022), Wales (2019), Ireland (2018), and England in 2016 have completed the Grand Slam.
In total, France has ten Grand Slam titles. They are third on the list of all time Grand Slam winners. England leads the way with 13, then it’s Wales on 12, and France on 10.
2023 Grand Slam Winner Betting
Depending on which bookmaker you are betting with, will determine who the favorite is in this market. BetOnline has both France and Ireland as joint favorites to complete the Grand Slam at +300. But is not offering odds on ‘ No Winner’ of the Grand Slam.
Elsewhere, Bovada is offering ‘No Winner’ of the Grand Slam at +100. They make ‘No Winner’ their betting favorite, with Ireland next at +275, France at +300, and England at +900. I think we can safely forget about the other three teams for this year.
These odds come from BetOnline, whom you can read more about in our BetOnline sportsbook review. Here you will find more details of their latest sign up bonus for new customers. Below is our odds table where you will find out more information on the betting to win the Grand Slam in 2023.
| 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam Betting |  |  |  |
| No Winner | - | +100 | +100 |
| Ireland | +300 | +275 | +275 |
| France | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| England | +900 | +900 | +850 |
| Wales | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Scotland | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
| Italy | +200000 | +200000 | +200000 |
Can France win the Grand Slam again in 2023?
Right now for our Grand Slam rugby betting pick. As I’ve already alluded to, not all of the best rugby betting sites are offering odds on No Winner of the Grand Slam. There’s a clue to where this is heading!
France previously won back to back Six Nations in 2006 and 2007, and didn’t complete the Grand Slam in either year. So even though the Grand Slam was required for France to win the Six Nations in 2022, it might not be the case in 2023.
It’s a really big ask for France to go to Dublin and win, and then to London to win, both in the same season. It’s not impossible, but it is a tough one.
I still think France will win one of those games, and that might be enough to see them win the 2023 Six Nations. But not the Grand Slam. Therefore my betting pick in this market is for there to be ‘No Winner’ of the Grand Slam at the 2023 Six Nations with Bovada.
