2026 Six Nations Championship Week 5 predictions, odds and betting tips

It feels like the 2026 Six Nations has only just started, yet we’re all set for Super Saturday and what promises to be a spectacular finale to the dramatic 27th edition of the championship.

It won’t be a Grand Slam Saturday because the French blew their chances with last week’s defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh. Although, of course, it would be fairer to say that Scotland destroyed French chances with an explosive 50-40 triumph.

It means that, despite being humbled by Italy in the first round, the Scots have an outside chance of winning their first-ever Six (as opposed to Five) Nations title.

A lot needs to go right for them, but it is a possibility, and that’s a glorious contrast with the Saltire emotions just a few weeks ago.

The Irish are also in with a chance of unlikely glory, but the English and Welsh are left fighting for pride. The former have regressed throughout this campaign, the latter have improved, but both crave a win for some semblance of credibility.

Meanwhile, the Italians are hunting a first-ever championship with three wins.

There’s lots to play for – we should be in for a treat.

Quick Six Nations Week 5 betting tips

• Ireland to win on the handicap (-5 pts) – 10/11 with Ladbrokes
• Italy to win by 1-7 points – 11/4 at Paddy Power
• England to win on the handicap (+15 pts) – evens with bet365

Six Nations tournament odds

• France 2/9
• Ireland 7/1
• Scotland 15/2

Here are the updated tournament odds from Paddy Power.

The French have a significant advantage with a superior points difference, and they will know what they need to do when they kick off. If Scotland win with a bonus in Ireland, France must win with a bonus against England to secure the title.

If Scotland win without a bonus or Ireland win they will lead the championship heading into that final game and need England to do them a favour by pulling off a shock victory.

Ireland v Scotland

Scotland have incentive on their side and, while they have struggled against Italy and Wales this season, they have been superb against England and France. The task against Ireland is tough, but it suits their form.

However, Scotland has lost its last 11 games against Ireland. It’s even fair to say that Ireland is the team that coach Gregor Townsend has never cracked (he has a superior record against England, France and Australia).

Ireland are wary of Finn Russell, but they have found form and will welcome the chance to close the campaign in style.

Ireland v Scotland odds

• Ireland: 1/2
• Draw: 16/1
• Scotland: 7/4

Here are the latest match odds for Ireland v Scotland from Betfred.

Ireland to win on the handicap (-5 pts) at 10/11 with Ladbrokes

Let’s keep this simple. A Scotland win would be a great story and they will surely break the Irish jinx sooner or later. But the handicappers have this tight and recent history suggests otherwise. In those 11 straight wins the Irish have enjoyed, they won by more than five points no less than nine times.

Wales v Italy

The number 3 hangs over this match. On the one hand, the Welsh are on the brink of going three entire Six Nations campaigns without a win.

On the other hand, the Italians are excited by the prospect of winning three matches in one Six Nations season for the first time in their history.

The blunt message, therefore, is that Wales is playing with the limiting fear of extended failure while Italy start with nothing but excitement and incitement.

Wales v Italy odds

• Wales: 6/4
• Draw: 20/1
• Italy: 8/13

Here are the latest match odds for Scotland v France from Sky Bet.

Italy to win by 1-7 points at 11/4 with Paddy Power

There’s a good chance that this is the first ever time that Italy has played an away match in the Six Nations and been odds on favourite. And that’s not the end of the bad news for Wales because Italy has won three of the last four matches between the two teams (and both of the last two games in Cardiff).

In other words, the Italians deserve to be favourites. Those three Italian wins were all between one and seven points. A repeat of that is the play.

France v England

The English are under huge pressure. They started the championship in good form, lost it in startling fashion, made multiple changes against Italy, and it changed nothing.

Head coach Steve Borthwick’s tactics and selections are being challenged, and the team is losing confidence. And now they take on France in Paris. It’s the last thing they need. Or is it?

The French remain a huge threat, but how will they react to yet again blowing the Grand Slam?

France v England odds

• France: 1/5
• Draw: 33/1
• England: 9/2

Here are the latest match odds for France v Italy from Ladbrokes.

England to win on the handicap (+15 pts) at evens with bet365

The recent stats oppose the idea that this is a nightmare prospect for England. The last 10 matches between the two sides have been split five wins apiece and England have won eight of the last 15.

On the other hand, they have won just once in the last five Six Nations matches played in France – and none of the last four. We’ll avoid the results and focus on the handicap which has been set at +15 points. England would have covered that in 19 of the last 20 games between these teams.

England might be bad enough to fail, but history is with this bet and following history has proved profitable this season.

Best bookies to bet on the Six Nations Championship

Here are our top-rated rugby betting sites:

About the author

Matt Cooper

Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He’s worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He’s covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Find Matt on Twitter @MattCooperGolf

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