Ireland remain favourites for the Six Nations title

World rugby has been dominated by the Southern Hemisphere in recent times but in the North, Ireland have undoubtedly been the team to beat.

Once again in the Six Nations, Ireland are the hot favourites to lift the trophy in the eyes of many punters and international betting sites but defeat to England, could hamper their chances.

England vs Ireland in any sporting contest is always a sight to behold and with the two sides squaring off at Twickenham on Saturday, the stakes were ramped up even more.

It is no secret that England are going through a transitional phase but their style of play under Steve Borthwick has come into question with pundits and experts alike.

Meanwhile, all-conquering Ireland know the magnitude of the Twickenham test and despite all of the pre-match predictions, it was England who ultimately had the last laugh – dashing Ireland with a last gasp drop goal from Marcus Smith.

Irresistible Ireland

Losing a Six Nations game is never easy for any side to take and losing it to a last-minute drop goal is an even tougher pill to swallow.

For the best part of 80 minutes at Twickenham, Andy Farrell’s Ireland were at their best, matched by and England side that seriously stepped up to the plate when it mattered most.

Marcus Smith’s drop goal was a moment of instinctive quality, and it will hurt Ireland, but the Boys in Green remain the side to beat in Six Nations rugby.

Sensational Smith

Few players in world rugby tout the attention that Marcus Smith does, and the Harlequins fly-half has been waiting for his key moment in an England shirt.

Slotting the ball through the posts in such a high-pressure environment will be a real feather in the cap for Smith – who was in fine fettle after coming on to replace George Ford.

Overcoming Ireland is a real step in the right direction for England, who simply need to start showing consistency if they are to have any chance of sustaining a Six Nations run.

All to play for?

Seldom has a Six Nations campaign in recent memory been so closely fought, a fact that has been noted by plenty of punters and rugby union betting sites. 

Wales are the only side not to have won a game in this year’s Six Nations and they take on Italy next, in a wooden spoon decider, whilst England and France lock horns in Paris.

Ireland host Scotland, with the visitors unable to catch them but Andy Farrell’s side will want to go out on a high and clinch yet another Six Nations title.

Winning the Six Nations Grand Slam is one of the hardest things to do in world rugby and Ireland came so close to taking another step towards it against England.

However, Marcus Smith’s late drop goal spurned Ireland’s hopes for 2024 and they will now need to steady themselves, ahead of their closing game against Scotland.