Ireland vs Italy Prediction & Betting Tips - Six Nations

Prediction published on 10/02/2024, 05:32  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 11/02/2024 at 02:00 in Six Nations Prediction

Ireland continue their defence of the Six Nations title with a home game against Italy. They top the table after their stunning 38-17 away win against France on February 2. The Irish now have four games to play and three of them are in Dublin with the only remaining away game being against England. A second successive Grand Slam is well within their reach. Ireland have only lost one of their last 20 matches, their loss to New Zealand in last year's Rugby World Cup. There were some worries for them after seeing the retirement of Jonny Sexton but then came that game in Paris. Ireland scored five tries against the shocked French side. Now they host Italy looking for a 19th win in 20 home matches against them. Overall, Ireland have won 32 out of 36 against the Italians and last year beat them 34-20 in Rome in last year's Six Nations. They also defeated Italy 33-17 at home in a World Cup warm-up making it 14 straight wins and not losing to them since 2013.

Italy aren't bottom of the Six Nations for a change. They opened their 2024 Six Nations campaign with a narrow 27-24 home loss to England. That earned them a bonus point leaving France bottom of the table. That was a good performance by the Italians after a disappointing World Cup in which they failed to make it out of their pool. They have conceded 183 points in their last three games and that doesn't bode well for this trip to Dublin. They've only won one of their last 21 matches in the Six Nations and the last win was by a single point against Wales two years ago. We tip Ireland to win this on a -27.5 point handicap.