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- Ireland vs Italy Betting Tips and Preview: Big win in store for Ireland, as brave Italy run out of steam
Ireland vs Italy Betting Tips and Preview: Big win in store for Ireland, as brave Italy run out of steam
- Ireland have won 23 of their 27 test matches against Italy, and 16 of 17 in the Six Nations - they have tasted defeat at home since 1997 (Ireland to win ) — 1/50 Betfair
- Italy, however, are improving under Irish coach Conor O'Shea, and have developed a habit of starting well (Italy ahead at halftime ) — 23/1 betsson
Ireland vs Italy Preview
Johnny Sexton's 45m after-the-hooter drop goal handed Ireland the opening-weekend victory they needed against France in Paris, their third in as many trips to Stade de France, but it was a long way from a performance for the ages. The men in green failed to score a try, and beat only 15 defenders all afternoon, as an organised French defence soaked up everything the Irish threw at them. There is no denying tries - and the bonus points that come with them will be at a premium in this tournament. Coach Joe Schmidt will, therefore, expect a much sharper cutting edge this weekend as Ireland open their 2018 home account against an Italian side they are expected to beat well at the Aviva Stadium.
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Ireland vs Italy Prediction
The attacking flaws exposed in Ireland's opening Six Nations' outing last week should have been ironed out by the time the players hit the Aviva Stadium pitch on Saturday. And, for all that Italy are improving rapidly under the likeable and enthusiastic Conor O'Shea, the gulf in class between the two nations remains a wide one. The Azzurri's last win over Ireland was in Rome in 2013; their last win in Ireland was in 1997, and Ireland have chalked-up more than 50 points in each of their last two meetings. A home win is almost inevitable. Only the scale of victory is up for question for anyone interested in the latest rugby union odds.
Ireland vs Italy Betting Tips
The best Six Nations betting odds for an Ireland win come from Betfair, but the near-certainty of an Irish win means that the odds are crumblingly short, despite the fact that last weekend's win over France merely papered over the cracks of a strangely ineffective attacking game in the face of some ferocious French tackling. It is not impossible that an organised and determined Italian defence could make life rather difficult - at least to begin with. But expect Ireland to have notched a big score by the time referee Romain Poite signals the end of the game.
Do not expect the Irish to have it all their own way. While it is true that, for the second weekend in a row, the bookies expect Italy to be on the receiving end of a pummelling - it may be worth remembering they do not give in without a fight. Last weekend, they went into the tunnel at halftime against England with the scores even at seven-all. And, remember, they 'foxed' their way to a halftime lead at Twickenham last season. It is hard to imagine, having seen Ireland's blunt attacking edge last weekend, that O'Shea does not have a cunning plan in mind for the weekend's Dublin trip. Which suddenly makes Betsson's longshot halftime lead offer a more interesting proposition.
