Dean Etheridge
The 2023 Six Nations championship starts in just a few days, and that means it’s time to start looking at naming our rugby betting picks. Today, we’re looking at the betting to win the Triple Crown.
- What; 2023 Six Nations Triple Crown
- Who; Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales
- When; February 4th – March 18th
The Six Nations may well be the best international rugby tournament held in the Northern Hemisphere, but as many of you may already know, it’s also one of the quirkiest. There are numerous cups and titles that are competed for, and one such is the Triple Crown.
What is the Triple Crown?
The Triple Crown can only be won by one of Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales. If any of those four nations beats the other three, that nation wins the Triple Crown. And where there’s a competition or trophy to be won, there’s always also a betting market.
Betting to win the 2023 Triple Crown
As the number one ranked side in world rugby, Ireland are the rightful favorites to win the Triple Crown. The Irish are +125. No winner of the Triple Crown is next in the betting at +150. Then it is England at +500, Wales at +1200, and Scotland at +2000.
The above betting odds are taken from Bovada. More details can be found at our Bovada sportsbook review. Full Triple Crown odds from the best rugby betting sites can be found below in our odds table.
| 2023 Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Ireland | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| No Winner | +150 | +150 | +150 |
| England | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Wales | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Scotland | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
Ireland +125
The big advantage Ireland has is that they play their toughest Triple Crown opponents England, at home. This gives them a massive edge, and is probably why England’s odds are so long in the same market.
- Wales vs Ireland – February 4th
- Scotland vs Ireland – March 12th
- Ireland vs England – March 18th
The Irish do have to play the other two nations they need to beat to win the Triple Crown away from home. At home in Dublin, matches against Scotland and Wales would be near certain wins. Away from the Aviva Stadium, it is not so.
When these two fixtures were last played in Wales and Scotland back in 2021, Ireland won one and lost one. They started with a 21-16 defeat to Wales. But they did win a tight match in Scotland 27-24, thanks to a late 77th minute penalty from Jonny Sexton.
This year Ireland looks far stronger than they did two years ago. While both Scotland and Wales (in particular) look weaker.
England +500
After sacking Eddie Jones and replacing him with Steve Borthwick, England could be a bit of an unknown quantity. The English are a side packed with quality, but will Borthwick have had enough time to get them playing in the style he wants them to play in?
- England vs Scotland – February 4th
- Wales vs England – February 25th
- Ireland vs England – March 18th
The game in Dublin in March is intriguing. Should Ireland need a win to complete the Six Nations win, it would be just like England to go there and upset the party. And also cost Ireland the Triple Crown in the process.
Wales +1200
The Welsh have replaced Wayne Pivac with Warren Gatland and former coach Gatland has his work cut out in getting the Welsh back into shape in time for the Six Nations.
- Wales vs Ireland – February 4th
- Scotland vs Wales – February 11th
- Wales vs England February 25th
But as shambolic as the Welsh looked under Pivac, they would be hard pushed to get any worse. The Wales players simply didn’t look right under their now former boss Pivac.
But a lot of those same players will have played for Gatland, and it probably won’t take much for Gatland to make an improvement. Whether that improvement is enough to see them challenge in this year’s Six Nations is another question.
The Welsh will fancy themselves at home against anybody. It wouldn’t be a huge shock for them to beat one of Ireland or England in Cardiff.
Scotland +2000
After seven successive defeats to England, Scotland have since lost only once to England in their last five fixtures. In those five matches, Scotland have won three, drawn one, and lost one. And the last time they played England at Twickenham, they won 11-6 back in 2021.
- England vs Scotland – February 4th
- Scotland vs Wales – February 11th
- Scotland vs Ireland – March 12th
Something tells me Scotland are owed one by England, and I think that Gregor Townsend’s team’s chances of winning the Triple Crown could fall at the first hurdle. The Scots will fancy their chances at home to Wales and Ireland. But I don’t see them having much chance of winning all three.
Our Rugby Betting Picks
The obvious call is Ireland, but at just +125, I’m not sure they are great value. Andy Farrell’s team could possibly come unstuck away in either Wales or Scotland, and no matter what anybody says, playing England in Dublin at the end of the tournament will be challenging. I’m not going to pick Ireland for these reasons.
I can’t see Scotland winning the Triple Crown, and going to Cardiff and Dublin will make it extremely difficult for England to do it.
Wales have the fixtures going in their favor. They have home matches against England and Ireland, and their one away game is in Scotland. The problem is, they simply have no form. But at +1200, I think the Welsh are worth a small saver bet.
For my main rugby betting pick on this market, the only bet I can see is for there to be no winner of the Triple Crown at +150. The fixtures just look too difficult to achieve this year, and I can see everybody beating each other.
