2012 Six Nations Week 1 Picks | Thebigtip

The first round of matches to decide the 2012 Six Nations Championship gets underway this weekend with all teams knowing that it is imperative to get off to the best possible start and here's a look at the first games for what is the biggest international tournament in the Northern Hemisphere.

France v Italy

In the first match on Saturday, France will undoubtedly be going flat out to beat Italy at the Stade de France in order to bury the ignominious and very controversial defeat they suffered in Rome last year. Despite reaching the World Cup final and acquitting themselves well against New Zealand, there was much acrimony in the French camp in 2011. The players were clearly at odds with coach Mark Lievremont’s selection criteria which almost led to a revolt and did lead to a whole host of erratic performances; they were even beaten by Tonga in the World Cup group stage.

Now under new coach, Phillip Saint-Andre, France start as the 13/8 ($2.63) favourites in the 6 nations betting to win the competition and with the advantage of having three of their five games on home soil, they should take all the beating. They also know that they could not have been given a much easier to start, the Azzurri have never won in the Six Nations in Paris and quite frankly do not have the team that ‘buck that trend’ this week.

Therefore, with more than a degree of certainty, France will run out comfortable winners on Saturday and should win by a wide enough margin to be sitting on top of the table at the conclusion of the three Round 1 matches.

Winners: France

Scotland v England

England Caretaker Head Coach, Stuart Lancaster, could not have been given a more difficult "baptism of fire" for his first game in charge. Calcutta Cup matches against Scotland always run high on emotion but even more so when these matches are played at Murrayfield.

Scotland in fact have won this fixture twice and drawn once in the last three meetings at Murrayfield and although England defeated the Scots in the World Cup group stages back in October in New Zealand, the Scots showed enough endeavour to trouble England throughout that match. They will bring plenty of that same endeavour into this match on Saturday.

What might possibly be a slight advantage to Scotland in this game is that England are likely to field a new look team, with at least three players making their international debut’s. Certainly they will have a new captain in the form of Harlequins flanker, Chris Robshaw, who has just one cap, but with nine uncapped players still in the final 24 man squad, then the edge on experience could go to the home team.

Add to the mix that the vast majority of the Scottish squad play for either Glasgow or Edinburgh, both of which have qualified for the last eight of the Heineken Cup. This is a very strong indication that Scottish rugby is on the up and if they can bring club form onto the international pitch, then rugby pundits should expect a shock on Saturday evening.

Winners: Scotland

Ireland v Wales

Ireland will try to put the 10-22 defeat against Wales in the Quarter Final of the World Cup behind them on Sunday afternoon, but know that to do so they will have to work extremely hard. Ireland who are not lacking in experience these days certainly have the knowledge, but the question everyone is asking do they still have the legs?

Wales will come into the match in confident mood after their excellent World Cup semi final appearance. It is true that they do have one or two injury concerns to key players, but they have enough strength in depth and desire within the rest of the squad to win this match on Sunday.

The outcome of the match might well be decided in the breakdown areas, where Ireland’s 2011 European Player of the Year, Sean O’Brien will be matched up against the tireless new captain of Wales, Sam Warburton. The two fought ‘tooth and nail’ over the ball in the RWC and it has to be said that it was Warburton who came out on top. A repeat of that then Wales can grab a vital away win in Dublin.

Winners: Wales