Ireland third favourites to win Six Nations

Ireland have been listed as third favourites at 8/1 to win the Six Nations crown by UK Bookmaker William Hill.

The bookies have priced Clive Woodward's England at 8/13 for the elusive clean sweep, and 2/5 for the Six Nations title.

The so-called 'Le Crunch' match comes in the opening weekend when the two most-fancied sides do battle at Twickenham on February 15, with Grand Slam holders and current champions France travelling to the face the English.

Bernard Laporte's French are second favourites for the title at 5/2, with Les Bleus 5/1 for a repeat of last year's Grand Slam.

Wales are 40/1 and Scotland can be had at 50/1, less than the 80/1 that they were ahead of the 1999 Five Nations Championship which they won.

John Kirwan's Italy are understandably the rank outsiders for the crown at 500/1, with the Azzurri subjected to the wooden spoon in each of the three years they have entered the competition.