Features

France in Six Nations driving seat

Author: John Harris
Date: 11/03/2010
Football betting

With this season's Six Nations championship coming towards an exciting close, it seems like the Grand Slam is there for France's taking.

With Ireland relinquishing their grip on the prize following their loss in Paris on February 13, Marc Lievremont's classy side are now the only nation who can make it five wins out of five.

They face competition minnows Italy at Stade de France on Sunday before the crunch match against England in the season's finale on March 20.

It is more than likely to come down to the final game as they seek to win the Grand Slam for a first time since 2004 and retain the Six Nations they won in 2007.

Despite France's 100 per cent record to date following wins over Scotland, Ireland and Wales, England and Ireland still have an outside chance of grabbing the glory from under their noses.

Ireland must win at Wales and at home to Scotland and hope that England canter to victory over the French on the final matchday.

With England facing old enemy Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend, a win is of paramount importance if Martin Johnson's men want to take their unlikely challenge all the way to France.

England and Ireland remain overwhelming sportsbook outsiders with the French in a seeming unassailable position, but Johnson and Declan Kidney's men will not be giving up hope.

England have struggled to make inroads during the campaign and have rarely looked like winning the competition.

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They claimed a fine 30-17 win against Wales, limped to a 17-12 success in Italy and fell to Ireland 20-16 at Twickenham last weekend in a mediocre display.

France have been ruthless and energetic throughout and, as results suggest, they have been the best team so far.

Mathieu Bastareaud, Imanol Harinordoquy, Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc have been pivotal to their success and they will want to see the job through in the coming weeks.

Big-time players such as Jonny Wilkinson have failed to ignite England, Brian O'Driscoll hasn't had his usual mark on the Irish and Wales have been blighted with indiscipline and injury.

Scotland are a team continuing to suffer through a transitional period and Italy, although improving, are still nowhere near challenging consistently.

Although it is France's competition to lose, expect a few fireworks yet with England and Ireland not out of the final reckoning.

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