England v France Tips, Free Bets and Betting Offers, Saturday 4th February 2017
France will be England’s first opponents in this year’s Six Nations as Eddie Jones’ side look to match last year’s sensational Grand Slam and having gone a full calendar year unbeaten in 2016, they will be looking to get 2017 off to the best possible start.
England v France Betting Offers and Free Bets
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England v France Betting Tips
Preview
France’s 2016 Six Nations was certainly one to forget for Guy Noves’ side as they slumped to a fifth place finish, putting in a number of fairly abject displays despite the evident quality they had in their squad. However, as they year progressed, there were a number of shoots of recovery as they triumphed in a double header over Argentina in the summer before narrowly losing to Antipodean heavyweights Australia and New Zealand. They still look like they have parts of their game to iron out, but they will offer a stern test to the home side.
It is a test England should pass with flying colours even with their mounting injury crisis. Eddie Jones will be unable to call on the Vunipola brothers and Chris Robshaw who will both miss out through injury. Robshaw in particular will be a big miss, with the Harlequins player putting in some fine performances of late in an England shirt. Luckily for Jones, he has the deepest talent pool to call upon and as one player gets ruled out injured, another is more than capable to step up, with many expecting a big tournament from Saracens’ Mario Itoje.
Betting Verdict
England have a good record at Twickenham against France in competitive matches and it would certainly take a brave man to bet against them in this opening game. The home side have quality throughout the park and in Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell, they have some really intelligent backs. Of course, the French side are not without merit but they seem to be operating at a level below England and the gulf in class should show through on Saturday afternoon. We’re backing England – who are the side best placed to take advantage of the Six Nations’ new bonus point ruling – to record a fairly comfortable victory.
Elsewhere, we like the look of Jonny May to be the first tryscorer of the match with the Gloucester flyer a real handful for opposition defences. He consistently offers a threat in matches and he has managed the transition from the club scene to the international one with ease and if England give him the right surface out wide he can be a devastating weapon. This is a nice bet at longer odds, especially with Ladbrokes offering a £50 free bet.