IRISH PUNTERS have learned the lessons of 2007 and will not be heaping money on a Grand Slam, despite the fixtures breaking down nicely again this season with England and France coming to Croke Park. Still, 9/1 (Boylesports) may tempt some small wagers.

IRB player of the year Shane Williams is the 5/1 favourite to be top try scorer (Ladbrokes) with England winger Paul Sackey next on 9/1 and a chasing pack including Tommy Bowe at 12/1. Keith Earls is 100/1; stranger things have certainly happened. This panel is putting a few quid on Brian O’Driscoll (20/1) rediscovering the try-scoring touch this spring with David Wallace (10/1) to claim the first try against France.

Looking at the weekend’s matches, Ireland are two-point favourites against an inexperienced France on the handicap (Paddy Power) with Italy getting a 15-point advantage at Twickenham and Wales minus four up in Murrayfield.

Ladbrokes Specials

Like Father Like Son:

Seánie O’Leary scored a goal in his first All-Ireland hurling championship final at Croke Park back in 1972 (Kilkenny beat his native Cork). His son Tomás is 3/1 to score a try in his first Six Nations Championship match.

Safe Pair of Hands:Rob Kearney is even money not to knock-on against France.

Crossbar Challenge:Ronan O'Gara is 6/1 to hit the crossbar with a penalty kick against France

Six Nations top try scorer:

5/1 Shane Williams

9/1 Paul Sackey

12/1 Julien Malzieu

12/1 Tommy Bowe

14/1 Luke Fitzgerald

14/1 Maxime Medard

16/1 Mark Cueto

16/1 Rob Kearney

18/1 Leigh Halfpenny

Paddy Power

Six Nations top Irish try-scorer:7/2 Tommy Bowe

5/1 Luke Fitzgerald

7/1 Robert Kearney

9/1 Brian O’Driscoll

16/1 David Wallace

16/1 Keith Earls

16/1 Paddy Wallace

20/1 Tomas O’Leary

25/1 Jamie Heaslip

33/1 Jerry Flannery

40/1 Marcus Horan

40/1 Paul O’Connell

100/1 Donncha O’Callaghan

125/1 John Hayes

First Irish try scorer against France (selected):

20/1 Paul O’Connell

9/1 Paddy Wallace

10/1 David Wallace

11/1 Tomas O’Leary

11/1 Jamie Heaslip

Handicap odds (all at 10/11):Ireland -2 v France + 2

England -15 v Italy +15

Scotland +4 v Wales -4

Boylesports

Six Nations Outright:

2/1 Wales

3/1 France

7/2 Ireland

4/1 England

16/1 Scotland

100/1 Italy

Six Nations Grand Slam:

4/7 No Grand Slam

5/1 Wales

7/1 France

8/1 England

9/1 Ireland

80/1 Scotland

1000/1 Italy

Six Nations Triple Crown:

7/4 No Winner

2/1 Wales

5/1 England

5/1 Ireland

9/1 Scotland