Defending champions England start this weekend’s Six Nations as favourites to win the title again, according to the QBE Predictor.
It is only three months since Eddie Jones’s team beat Italy in the fragmented 2020 tournament that was delayed by the outbreak of Covid 19.
England come up against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday in the highlight of the opening weekend.
The Independent with QBE Business Insurance to provide predictions for this season’s 6Nations.
QBE Business Insurance has based its predictions on a complex mathematical formula created by a team of experts whose day job is to help businesses anticipate the likelihood and impact of risks so that they can prepare for and manage them properly.
The computer model has simulated each game 10,000 times with an average score taken to find the final result.
Actuaries inputted a wide range of rugby variables including the number of tries, kicks and conversions scored by the teams involved.
The QBE Predictor makes England the most likely at 53% to be crowned as the Six Nations champions but with tough trips to both Wales and Ireland to come, the Predictor also believes that there is a 67% chance that no country will win a Grand Slam this year.
The weekend’s other big game takes place in Cardiff where Wales host Ireland and the Predictor is forecasting a tight 21-20 win for the visitors.
The opening match of the championship takes place in Rome, but the expectation is that the Italians’ miserable run of form will continue with a 31-12 defeat by the French.
Rugby coverage is brought to you in association with QBE who help businesses build resilience through risk management and insurance. For more information go to QBEEUROPE.com
