Nothing in it
Bookies favourites France come third in readers' poll
By Rachel Brown - Twitter: @skybet_Rach. Last Updated: February 3, 2012 3:09pm
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Staurt Lancaster: Tough start for interim England boss
The 2012 RBS Six Nations kicks off on Saturday and skysports.com readers are unable to decide whether England or Ireland will come out on top.
Our poll shows a neck and neck battle with both teams earning 28 per cent of the reader vote, but the odds from online betting company Sky Bet slightly favour Stuart Lancaster's men.
Sky Bet have World Cup finalists France as 6/4 favourites ahead of England at 4/1 and Ireland at 9/2 in their outright market, but only 19 per cent of readers believe they can repeat their 2010 success.
Les Bleus begin their campaign against 200/1 outsiders Italy, who are 10/1 to gain an unlikely win against Marc Lievremont's side at the Stade de France.
Ireland will be on a mission to put their World Cup heartbreak behind them, while defending champions England will hope to let their rugby do the talking with a fresh-faced team including three uncapped players in the starting line-up against Scotland.
England (8/13) have not beaten the Scots (11/8) at Murrayfield since 2004 but Lancaster's side will be aiming to turn that around. What if the new boy flourishes? Owen Farrell is 66/1 to score a try, conversion, penalty and drop kick. Or could the Saracens contingent produce the points - any Sarries player to score a try is 2/5.
Scotland will need to show consistency to underline their improvement under Andy Robinson, only six per cent of readers think they can go all the way and claim the championship. Sky Bet pundit Dean Ryan thinks the first try during Scotland v England will come from the home team's David Denton at 28/1.
Facing Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in their opening match, Wales' backing from readers sits at just 17 per cent but Warren Gatland's men are 11/4 for Six Nations glory ahead of both England and Ireland.
Wales last 10 games away have seen the team ahead at half-time go on to win the match and you can get Ireland/Ireland at 10/11 or Wales/Wales at 3/1 with Sky Bet.
