Rugby World predictions game

NOT FOR FEATURED. PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 04: Paul O'Connell, (R) captain of Ireland and Thierry Dusatoir captain of France lead their teams out onto the pitch during the RBS Six Nations match between France and Ireland at Stade de France on March 4, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

France and Ireland flummoxed our pundits

Nine rugby experts had a go at predicting the winners of all 15 RBS Six Nations matches in Rugby World’s annual Six Nations Predictions Competition, published in the March edition. With nine games down, and six to go, who is in the running to be this season’s best forecaster?

The joint leaders at this stage are former champ and ex Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies, and a first-time player, the new Rugby World editor Owain Jones. Both have called seven results right so far. Unsurprisingly, neither thought France v Ireland would be a draw, while Davies thought Scotland might beat England and Jones expected Ireland to defeat Wales.

Close behind with six correct results out of nine are former France hooker Olivier Azam, and RFU referee manager Tony Spreadbury. Still in with a shout, on five out of nine, is Rugby World’s Italian writer and another former winner Gianluca Barca.

Extraordinarily, all nine pundits have made the same calls for the fourth round of games, saying Wales will beat Italy, Ireland will beat Scotland and France will beat England, so the Predictions Competition winner will be decided on the last day of the Six Nations. There’s no prize at stake – only pride!