Future rugby betting hints New Zealand dominance to continue

Veteran hooker Keven Mealamu is also finished at 36, but was only on the All Blacks roster this time round as backup. There’s still enough exciting youth throughout this current crop to cover the loss of such experience, especially in the back row through wingers Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea, as well as fly half Beauden Barrett.

Six Nations can soothe disappointment in spring

When put up against the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights, the elite of European rugby were found wanting and perhaps a little unfortunate. That has led to much soul-searching, which in some quarters still continues as the dust settles on the World Cup.

England are the eyebrow-raising 2/1 favourites to take the 2016 Six Nations title, but there are too many imponderables at this stage to regard them as a safe bet. Head coach Stuart Lancaster still has the Sword of Damocles hanging over him, and could pay the ultimate price for his failure to bring the Red Rose out of their Rugby World Cup pool.

Wales and Ireland come next at 11/4 each, but there is continuity and change to consider. Warren Gatland will be hoping his injury-hit Dragons roster will be eased over the winter, while Irish coach Joe Schmidt has a Paul O’Connell shaped hole in his forward line to plug.

France have rebuilding to do at 5/1, while there is something temptingly long about a cheeky punt on 16/1 shots Scotland. Beaten by a single point and controversial penalty awarded in their agonising Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to Australia, if Vern Cotter can knock a pesky happy of poor starts out of his Tartan team, then they could be contenders.

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