Ireland vs Italy
Aviva Stadium
11.02.2024, 18:00
The Aviva Stadium is set to host the round 2 Six Nations encounter between Ireland and Italy. In anticipation of this match, Ireland is heavily favored at home, while Italy comes into the game on the back of consecutive defeats, extending their losing streak to three matches.
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Ireland Form
Ireland may still carry a sense of disappointment from their performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Despite entering the tournament as the world No.1 side and performing well, including a victory over the eventual champions, South Africa, in the group stage, Ireland fell short in the quarter-final against an inspired All Black side. The match was not considered a choke but rather one of the best games of rugby ever played between two superb teams. Ireland, however, moved past this disappointment with an impressive showing last week, defeating France 38-17 in Paris. The result, which few anticipated, showcased Irish dominance from the first whistle.
Italy Form
Italy has demonstrated significant improvement despite facing some challenging results. Although they had a tough time at the World Cup, especially against France and New Zealand, the Italians showcased their potential in the Six Nations last year, even though they lost all five games. In the past 12 months, apart from those two challenging results, Italy has displayed considerable improvement. Last week's match against England was a clear example, with Italy leading 17-14 at halftime. Despite their lack of experience showing in the latter part of the game, England managed to secure a 27-24 victory. Currently, Italy occupies the 5th spot in the Six Nations standings with one point.
Expert Tips & Prediction
Ireland is currently in outstanding form with 18 wins from their last 19 internationals. Their lone defeat came against New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final. Considering their formidable form, it seems unlikely that they will fall short at home against Italy. However, acknowledging Italy's recent capabilities, there's an expectation that they may manage to stay within a margin of 34 points in the upcoming match.