March 2009

Super League Betting Preview: Winning games takes second place on a weekend of rememberance

George Riley / 27 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Leon Walker's tragic death is at the forefront of George Riley's mind as he looks at the forthcoming fixtures....Read more »

Rugby Union Betting: A bumper weekend of EDF Cup and Premiership clashes

Geoffrey Riddle / 26 March 2009 / Leave a comment

This weekend's EDF Energy Cup semi-final double-header at the Ricoh Arena will provide rugby punters with clues as to what the British Lions team will look like as well as prime betting opportunities....Read more »

Rugby Betting: O'Driscoll the obvious choice to lead Lions

Ralph Ellis / 26 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Ralph Ellis believes there is only one man to lead the British Lions in South Africa this summer. However, influential former players have been arguing otherwise....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Wales v Ireland

Cormac O'Keeffe / 20 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Ireland have been waiting 61 years for Grand Slam glory, a wait that may come to an end this weekend. But it could be a tighter game than some are suggesting writes Cormac O'Keefe......Read more »

Six Nations Betting: View from the valleys

Paul Moon / 20 March 2009 / 5 Comments

Paul Moon says that Wales fans have been in contemplative mood this week - like a fisherman after the one that got away. But will their team rally themselves for a thrilling Six Nations' finale in Cardiff on Saturday?...Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Ellis keen to crown comeback campaign with Calcutta Cup

Ralph Ellis / 20 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Harry Ellis has established himself as Martin Johnson's first choice scrum-half and his performances have been one of England's few Six Nations plus points. Can he inspire his country to Calcutta Cup glory?...Read more »

Super League Betting: Saints eye revenge as Rhinos roll into town

George Riley / 20 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Last week's first-half performance in beating Wigan was near-perfect from Leeds. The Headingley win kick-started another top weekend for followers of this column, with a further five successful tips out of seven. Can George Riley and the Super League Champions...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Italy v France

Tony Calvin / 19 March 2009 / Leave a comment

A stout defence has served the Italians well and could make things tricky for the French, says Tony Calvin, and a trading approach could be the way to tackle this game......Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: England v Scotland

Geoffrey Riddle / 19 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle can't get enthusiastic about backing England at [1.17] so it comes down to a question of winning margins....Read more »

Rugby Union v Rugby League: Smith could be the latest to join the Super League exodus...

Ralph Ellis / 19 March 2009 / Leave a comment

The whispers are growing louder that Leeds Rhinos' ace could be heading to Wasps....Read more »

The Betfair Contrarian: Why Ireland won't win the Six Nations

The Betfair Contrarian / 18 March 2009 / Leave a comment

No one loves Ireland more than the Contrarian - few countries have made a greater contribution to underdoggery - yet the cards are stacked very much in Ireland's favour heading into the final weekend of this year's Six Nations and...Read more »

Martin Corry: Ireland will grind out title while England finish smiling

MartinCorry / 18 March 2009 / Leave a comment

The final round of matches provide an enthralling conclusion to the 2009 RBS Six Nations, writes former-England captain Martin Corry....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: England deliver emphatic victory

Geoffrey Riddle / 16 March 2009 / Leave a comment

England's magnificent 34-10 victory over France at Twickenham has come too late to effect their championship hopes this year, but it was a timely success, writes Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Simon returns but England are not on Shaw footing

Ralph Ellis / 14 March 2009 / Leave a comment

There are so many uncertainties surrounding England at the moment that even the reassuring presence of Simon Shaw may not be enough to inspire a win against France on Sunday, says Ralph Ellis....Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Ireland v Scotland

Hugh Cahill / 13 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Never mind Cardiff next weekend and talk of a Grand Slam - this is a match Ireland will have to be at their best to win. Hugh Cahill is taking it one game at a time......Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: England v France

Geoffrey Riddle / 13 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Twickenham is going to shake this Sunday. Martin Johnson and Marc Lievremont have called up the big guns for what is gearing up to be a monumental confrontation, writes Geoffrey Riddle....Read more »

Six Nations Betting: View from the valleys

Paul Moon / 13 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Paul Moon reports from across the border where the word in the valleys is that Warren Gatland has one eye on the World Cup. However, the reigning Six Nations champions need to make a big score against Italy and fans...Read more »

Six Nations Betting Preview: Italy v Wales

Geoffrey Riddle / 13 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle wonders if Wales' bruised egos can do enough against Italy to heal themselves in time for a potential Six Nations decider against Ireland next week......Read more »

Super League Betting: Champions boosted by Webb's return for key clash

George Riley / 12 March 2009 / Leave a comment

As predicted, Wigan thumped a woefully out of sorts Bradford last weekend and now, as they head across the Pennines to face the Super League champions, George Riley wonders if the Warriors' winning run will continue......Read more »

Betfair Big Interview : Magnus Lund

Ralph Ellis / 12 March 2009 / Leave a comment

At Betfair we wondered why more and more top rugby players are joining the exodus to play in France. It seemed like a good excuse to fly to Biarritz for some warm Spring sunshine and a chat with former England...Read more »

Martin Corry: English ambition can win crucial contest

MartinCorry / 10 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Martin Corry believes that England need to throw off the shackles if they are to defeat France at Twickenham on Saturday....Read more »

Guinness Premiership Betting: Wasps show intent as Cipriani and Co. stay

Geoffrey Riddle / 06 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle reports from Wasps' Twyford Avenue training base as players and staff scotch rumours of unrest and tell their Premiership rivals: "We mean business."...Read more »

Six Nations Betting: Never change a winning team... until it loses

Ralph Ellis / 06 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Warren Gatland has wrung the changes for Wales penultimate match with Italy. Ralph Ellis wonders if the second string will seize their chance to win a place in the starting line-up for what could turn out to be the tournament...Read more »

Magners League Betting: Week 12

Cormac O'Keeffe / 06 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Cormac O'Keefe explains why the Magners League matters and picks the best bets from this weekend's fixtures......Read more »

Rugby League Betting: Noble's Warriors fired up for winning run

George Riley / 05 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Last week's column called on punters to "Back Wildcats to Wound Wolves" and we again found an underdog winner in another terrific tipping week as another round of Super League shocks proved this season is going to be an absolute...Read more »

Rugby League Betting: Government alter Super League landscape

Ralph Ellis / 05 March 2009 / Leave a comment

After foreign worker laws prevented Bradford Bulls from signing a top player, could Catalan Dragons be about to benefit from France's less stringent laws? Ralph Ellis discusses a potential crisis in British rugby league......Read more »

Six Nations Betting: 'We could have won,' says furious Johnson

Geoffrey Riddle / 01 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle reports from the England head coach's post-match press conference where a lack of discipline was blamed for defeat once again....Read more »