The Super League champions had previously been backed into 5/2 from 7/2 following substantial ante-post support.

The match, a repeat of the 2005 final, which was won by Hull, is the standout tie of the round and the Black and Whites have been lengthened themselves to 16/1 (from 12/1) to lift the trophy.

Other all-Super League encounters include Catalans v Salford, Harlequins v Wakefield and Huddersfield v Hull KR.

2008 winners St Helens, who face a home tie against Toulouse, remain 7/2 second favourites, while Warrington and Wigan, who have been drawn against lower league opposition, have both been cut to 6/1 (from 8/1).

Sky Bet’s rugby League betting spokesman Dave Sykes said: “With four Super League teams guaranteed not to make the next round, teams like Bradford, St Helens and Castleford will be looking to make the most of an indifferent start to the season with straightforward victories against Championship sides”

Crusaders are thought to have agreed an 18-month deal to sign Thomas and Sky Bet go 25/1 that the he scores ten or more tries in Super league and 10/1 that he makes 40 or more appearances.

Sky Bet’s rugby betting expert Dave Sykes said: “Although 35-years-old, the Welshman will have at least 50 potential Super League appearances during his 18-month contract and has a sporting chance to notch 10 tries or more.”

They share favouritism with the Rhinos, who will be bidding to contest a fourth consecutive final in 2011.

A repeat of this year’s final between the two teams is available at 14/1.

Sky Bet’s rugby betting spokesman Dave Sykes said: “Even with key personnel missing the Storm looked a cut above the Rhinos and come 2011 the 11/2 to retain the trophy could be a great ante-post bet.”

The England fly-half, who is currently the top points-scorer in this season’s tournament, is 5/6 to score ten or more points against the defending champions (5/6 9 or fewer).

Wilkinson is 16/1 to complete a full house of a try, penalty and drop-goal in the match and it’s 5/6 for the Toulon fly-half to outscore his opposite number Jonathan Sexton (5/6 Sexton).

England, who remain on course for their first Grand Slam title since 2003, are 10/11 to overcome the Irish and 7/1 to go on to achieve the Grand Slam.

Sky Bet’s rugby union betting spokesman Tim Reynolds said: “Jonny Wilkinson will need to put in a world-class performance this weekend if he’s going to cement his place for the remainder of the Six Nations, especially given the current form of both Toby Flood and Charlie Hodgson.”

Cipriani will leave Wasps at the end of the season to join the newly formed Australian side and Sky Bet go 10/1 that he is the top points scorer of the 2011 Super 15. 16/1 is on offer for Melbourne Rebels to win the Super 15 regular season and it’s 12/1 that they win the Grand Final.

His move to the southern hemisphere would seem to close the door for now on an England recall and Sky Bet make Cipriani’s odds of participating in the 2011 World Cup finals a 13/8 chance.

Sky Bet’s rugby betting expert Dave Sykes said: “Cirpiani faces a huge test in what is a tough but free-flowing competition and only an impressive stint in Australia would see him back in contention for an England recall.”

Danny Cipriani Specials

Note: Top Points & Tryscorer relate to Regular Season. 

Participate in 2011 World Cup Finals 13/8 

Super 15 Top Points Scorer 2011 10/1 

Win Super 15 Grand Final 2011 12/1 

Win Super 15 Regular Season 2011 16/1 

Super 15 Top Tryscorer Scorer 2011 100/1

England, who struggled to overcome Italy are now 100/30 (from 5/2) and Ireland have been pushed out to 9/1. Wales, who overcame Scotland to record their first win in this year’s campaign remain 14/1 and Scotland have been pushed out to 500/1 (from 40/1) after suffering their 2nd defeat in a row.

At the other end of the table, Italy are now 4/9 (from 2/5) to claim the Wooden Spoon with Scotland, who are the only other side not to record a victory so far 13/8 (from 2/1).

It’s 4/5 for France to repeat their feat of 2004 and claim the Grand Slam with England 7/1 (5/4 no Grand Slam winner).

Sky Bet’s rugby union betting spokesman Tim Reynolds said: “The France v’s Ireland match was billed as a potential Six Nations decider and if Marc Lièvremont’s side continue to play with the same belief and positive attitude that saw them overcome the Irish, it’s going to take a massive performance from England at the Stade de France to stop them from winning the Six Nations.”

The Rhinos’ odds of retaining their Super League regular season crown are out to 5/4 (from 6/5) after they suffered a second straight defeat on Sunday.

Leeds lost 28-18 to Wakefield on Sunday just a week after their shock defeat by Castleford at Headingley and Sky Bet go 16/1 that Leeds also lose the reverse fixtures against their West Yorkshire rivals.

 Sky Bet’s rugby league betting spokesman Dave Sykes said: “Leeds have got off to a slow start as they build up to the World Club Challenge but once that is out of the way they’ll be a force to be reckoned with again.”

The Brive centre is 2/1 to score a try, 9/1 a brace and 33/1 a hat-trick. In the 2009 Six Nations, Flutey was joint top try-scorer with four tries and is 20/1 to top the try-scoring chart for England again this year.

Flutey is 33/1 with Sky Bet to receive a red card on Valentine’s day and 6/1 to score a drop goal.

England must overcome a 15-points start on the handicap to beat the Azurri on Sunday and are 5/2 third favourites in the Six Nations outright betting.

Sky Bet have moved the handicap line on England up to -4 (from -2).

 England’s odds of winning the Six Nations for the first time since 2003 have been shaved to 4/1 (from 9/2),  while opening opponents Wales have been friendless in the Six Nations outright betting and have been lengthened to 11/2 (from 9/2).

Sky Bet’s rugby union betting spokesman Simon McMinn said:  “With Wales losing Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins they will be light in the scrum and are going to come under severe pressure form the England front five and if they can’t hold their own in the scrum Wilkinson will punish them with penalties.”

England centre Riki Flutey will miss Saturday’s clash due to a thigh injury and will be replaced by Toby Flood, who is 16/1 to score the first try.

A vast array of pre-tournament markets are available including a variety of England specials. Sky Bet are offering odds on where England will finish and make third place 11/4 favourite. Betting on the number of England victories is also available, with three wins out of five 6/4 favourite.

England scored only a single try during their three autumn internationals but can be backed at 4/6 to score nine or more throughout the Championship and it’s 5/6 that they amass 104 points or more.

Sky Bet have also produced a range of enhanced multiples ahead of the Six Nations with extra value match result, handicap and any time tryscorer trebles on offer. It’s 28/1 for Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, England winger Ugo Monye and France’s Benjamin Fall all to score a try in their respective matches this weekend.

It is the Sale centre’s second start for England since the 2007 rugby World Cup final in Paris and Sky Bet make Tait a 14/1 chance to open the scoring and 16/1 to score a brace of tries.

Sky Bet’s rugby union betting expert Simon McMinn said: “Tait burst onto the scene as a teenager in the 2005 Six Nations but hasn’t gone on to fulfil that early potential. However, after England’s toothless displays in the autumn internationals, Martin Johnson has turned to a more attack-minded centre and this is Tait’s chance to cement his place in the England midfield.”

Following early support for England, Sky Bet have moved the handicap line against Wales up to -3 (from -2) and they are 9/2 joint third favourites in the Six Nations outright betting.