February 2009

Six Nations Betting Preview: Ireland v England

Tony Calvin / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Even if they get a more sympathetic referee than they did in Cardiff, Tony Calvin believes England's lack of a cutting edge will be their downfall against a settled and in-form Ireland side....Read more »

Martin Corry: 'England are ready to cause an upset in Ireland'

MartinCorry / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Indiscipline may have cost them in Cardiff but there were many positives to take from England's last match and Martin Corry believes his former-team-mates have what it takes to put an end to Ireland's Grand Slam dream....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Scotland v Italy

Geoffrey Riddle / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Scotland and Italy have made life difficult for themselves so far and coaches of both sides have stressed the need to maintain discipline in what promises to be a close-fought Wooden Spoon decider. Geoffrey Riddle offers a composed assessment of...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: France v Wales

Paul Moon / 26 February 2009 / 3 Comments

Paul Moon believes that France are going backwards under Marc Lievremont and predicts that Wales will silence the home crowd in Paris on Friday night....Read more »

Super League Betting: Back Wildcats to wound Wolves

George Riley / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Three defeats in a row marks Wigan's worst start to a season for a quarter of a century. But followers of this column are smiling after George Riley's excellent tipping form continued. Can our man keep up the good work...Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Welsh mountains forgo chocolate for French fancy

Ralph Ellis / 26 February 2009 / Leave a comment

The professional era is turning rugby players into athletes and nobody places more emphasis on fitness and mobility than Warren Gatland, says Ralph Ellis as he looks ahead to Friday night's match between France and Wales....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: England need acts of faith

Ralph Ellis / 25 February 2009 / Leave a comment

England need a talisman but they won't find one if Martin Johnson persists in chopping and changing his side, says Ralph Ellis. Their opponents on Saturday are a far more settled outift......Read more »

Six Nations Betting: 'England are not on the road to recovery'

Paul Moon / 20 February 2009 / 3 Comments

Nobody was more pleased by the appointment of Martin Johnson than Betting.Betfair's Paul Moon... However, a disastrous autumn and an indifferent start to the Six Nations leads our man to provide a damning indictment of the England team....Read more »

Guinness Premiership Betting: Back to lay first-half Quins

Geoffrey Riddle / 19 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Gloucester have proved themselves adept at fighting their way back into games of late, while Harlequins usually perform best in the first 40 minutes . So, when the sides meet at the Stoop this weekend, the hosts are back-to-lay...Read more »

Rugby League Betting: Noble on the brink of big bother?

George Riley / 19 February 2009 / Leave a comment

The Celtic Crusaders have shown enough spirit in their opening defeats to give their fans hope that they can survive in Super League so George Riley is off to South Wales to see if they can start turning their new...Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Man-of-the-match award scant consolation for Worsley

Geoffrey Riddle / 15 February 2009 / 1 Comments

Geoffrey Riddle talks us through the three key areas that cost England the match against Wales and tells us what we should read into the post-match comments of some of the protagonists....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: View from the valleys

Paul Moon / 13 February 2009 / 5 Comments

The most compelling passion this Valentine's Day will be at the Millennium Stadium, where Wales will complete a hat-trick of Six Nation triumphs against arch antagonists England, says Paul Moon....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Wales v England

Tony Calvin / 13 February 2009 / Leave a comment

After last Saturday's "winning debacle" and a selection that beggars belief, England's only hope is to bring Wales down to their own level. However, Tony Calvin believes that even at a big price, backing the Red Rose at the Millenium...Read more »

Rugby League Betting: King hungry for success with Wolves

Ralph Ellis / 13 February 2009 / Leave a comment

After being hailed as a statement of Warrington Wolves' ambition, Matt King struggled in his first season in Super League. Could the Australian now be about to prove his critics wrong?...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: France v Scotland

Geoffrey Riddle / 12 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Scotland were toothless in their first Six Nations match and cannot afford to waste possession if they are to have any hope in Paris. Meanwhile, Saturday's match is a must win for France, says Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Rugby League Betting: Leeds to dampen Wakefield fire

George Riley / 12 February 2009 / Leave a comment

George Riley got off to a flier last week when he tipped the Wildcats' big-priced humbling of Wigan. Does he believe there will be any similar upsets this weekend?...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Italy v Ireland

Cormac O'Keeffe / 12 February 2009 / Leave a comment

With a passionate home crowd behind them and Mauro Bergamasco relieved of his duties at scum-half, Italy will be more compeitive against Ireland. But Cormac O'Keefe still fancies Declan Kidney's men to prevail, possible by as much as 15 points....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: England must stay out of the sin-bin

Ralph Ellis / 12 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Saturday's encounter with Wales will be tough enough for England with 15 men on the field and virtually impossible with 14. Ralph Ellis explains why Martin Johnson will be urging his squad not to repeat their indiscipline of last weekend....Read more »

The Betfair Contrarian: Why England will beat Wales

The Betfair Contrarian / 11 February 2009 / Leave a comment

England may be [5.3] to win against Wales at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday but, as a great champion of the underdog and occasional prophet of the upset, the Betfair Contrarian is backing the Red Rose to end their host's...Read more »

Martin Corry: 'England will rise to Welsh challenge'

MartinCorry / 11 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Former England skipper Martin Corry gives his verdict on a weekend of Six Nations rugby and makes his predictions for the next round of matches - including some big winning margins....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: "We must improve before Cardiff," says Martin Johnson

Geoffrey Riddle / 08 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Don't be fooled by the margin of victory over Italy. England remain indisciplined and next week's trip to Cardiff is a daunting assignment... Geoffrey Riddle reports from Twickenham....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Ireland vs France

Hugh Cahill / 07 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Another RBS 6 Nations campaign is upon us and with Ireland's opening match just around the corner, one can sense the usual anticipation growing among supporters of the green army. It's been 23 years since Ireland last won a championship...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: "We want to be a great side," says Martyn Williams

Geoffrey Riddle / 06 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle chats to the Cardiff Blues flanker about the challenges facing Wales in their bid to become only the sixth side to win back-to-back Grand Slams....Read more »

The shirt stays red but what are those white boots?

Ralph Ellis / 06 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Ahead of their Six nations opener at Murrayfield, there are signs that Wales may have started to believe the hype....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: England v Italy

Tony Calvin / 05 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Tony Calvin has few reservations about Martin Johnson's selections for Saturday's opening match at Twickenham. But, if they are to grind down an awkward Italy outfit, England must demonstrate a level of heart and perseverance which was lacking in the...Read more »

Betfair Big Interview : Jace Van Dijk

Ralph Ellis / 05 February 2009 / Leave a comment

The new, expanded Engage Super League starts on Friday night - and Betfair went to meet Jace Van Dijk, the Australian scrum half who is captain of new boys Celtic Crusaders, to hear how the Welsh club feel about taking...Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Win when you're singing

maxliu / 05 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Opera stars lend their voices to England's rugby cause......Read more »

Guiness Premiership: Growing South African influence forces Jones out of Vicarage Road

Ralph Ellis / 05 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Australian coach quits Saracens in protest as club moves to court ex-pat community in London....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: England

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

In the first of his Six Nations team profiles, Geoffrey Riddle assesses England's prospects, starting with Saturday's home clash against Italy....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: Italy

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

As they continue to score tries, Italy become stronger every year. But Nick Mallet's men must be quicker out of the blocks if they are to make their progress count, says Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: France

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

It's anyone's guess which 15 Marc Lievremont will put out as he builds a team for the next World Cup. Fortunately, Geoffrey Riddle was able to consult the Bettorlogic database in order to make his assessment of the Les Bleus'...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: Scotland

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Last year's victory against the Auld Enemy revitalised Scotland but they still need to rely less on dour forward play and spread the ball wider if they are to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon, says Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: Ireland

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

After last year's disappointing campaign, can master tactician Declan Kidney bring about an upturn in Irish fortunes? Geoffrey Riddle looks at the Bettorlogic database to provide the answers......Read more »

Six Nations Betting: All Goode for England's suprise choice at no. 10

Ralph Ellis / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Andy Goode has not played for England since November 2006 but as top scorer in top-flight French club rugby this season, his selection shouldn't come as such a shock says Ralph Ellis....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Profile: Wales

Geoffrey Riddle / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Wales are the most potent attacking force in Northern Hemisphere rugby and a look at the Bettorlogic database reveals that last year's success may not have been a one off, says Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Martin Corry: 'Sorry Johno, but it's Wales again for me'

MartinCorry / 03 February 2009 / Leave a comment

In the first of his Six Nations dispatches, former-England captain and new Betting.Betfair columnist Martin Corry offers his perspective on the first round of matches, the key players and who he thinks will triumph in 2009....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Uncapped Foden wins call up to England squad

maxliu / 01 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Johnson announces squad for six nations as England bid for first title in six years......Read more »

Rugby League Betting: Super League 2009 Preview

George Riley / 01 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Two new clubs, a new season format, a new playoff system and 14 teams ready to sweat blood for their badge. But are any of these 14 clubs really ready to challenge champions Leeds or runners-up St Helens for supremacy?...Read more »