The Six Nations was halted back in February due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, but the action gets back underway this weekend as the final rounds of the huge competition are contested, with the title still hanging in the balance.
Big Match Preview
It has been a long eight months since Ireland were last in international action, and they have had had more than enough time to ponder over the mistakes that they made in their last match against England. The Irish end with back-to-back games against Italy and France, with the latter of those taking place next weekend at the Stade de France.
Ireland started their Six Nations campaign with consecutive wins against Scotland and Wales, with that win over Wales being their best performance of the Six Nations this year. Ireland ran out 24-14 winners in that match, with Jordan Larmour, Tadhg Furlong and Josh van der Flier scoring tries. CJ Stander was awarded man of the match in that win. However, their chances of Grand Slam success were dashed in brutal fashion by England in their most recent match.
England were dominant in that win, as they claimed a 17-0 lead after tries from Elliot Daly and George Ford. Regardless, the 24-12 defeat doesn’t end Ireland’s chances of winning the Six Nations, and they will be aware of what they need to do in their final two matches. Ireland must get a bonus point victory over Italy this weekend, and then beat France in Paris. If they are able to do both those things, then they will win the Six Nations regardless of what happens in the other matches.
Italy have been abysmal throughout the Six Nations once again, as they have lost all three matches so far. They opened their campaign with a 42-0 defeat against Wales, before comfortable wins for France and Scotland in the following two matches. Italy haven’t won a Six Nations match since beating Scotland back in 2015, and that was the only tournament in the last five that they have avoided finishing with the wooden spoon. However, it looks hard to see anything other than that happening again. BetXChange offers 16.00 on the Italy win in this match.
Recent Ireland vs Italy Meetings
Ireland have a dominant record against Italy, as they have won 27 of the 31 matches played between the nations. Italy have won on three occasions, but these have all come on home soil for the Italians. In Ireland, Italy have won just once, with that success coming back in 1997. Ireland have won the last nine against Italy, with their last defeat coming seven years ago at the Stadio Olimpico. The last match was won 29-10 by Ireland.
Ireland vs Italy Prediction
This shouldn’t be a hard prediction for gamblers to make this weekend, as Ireland will get the big win that they need to keep their Six Nations hopes alive. There will not be much value in the bet, but it will be a winning one.
