Ireland vs Wales Prediction: Ireland will be solid again

The 2024 Six Nations is set to resume this weekend after a one-week break, with week three's action starting in Dublin at the Aviva Stadium, where Ireland will face off against Wales. Ireland, having secured the maximum ten points from their first two matches, are now the clear favorites to win a second consecutive title, as indicated by the latest odds. On the other hand, Wales has managed to accumulate three points in their two games but is still in search of their first victory in the competition.

As we reach the midway point of the competition, Ireland has asserted their dominance, dispelling any doubts about their ability to rebound from the disappointment of the World Cup. The Shamrocks commenced their 2024 Six Nations campaign impressively, securing their largest-ever victory against France, sending a clear message to the other teams in the competition. In a subsequent match at the same venue, Andy Farrell's side delivered a ruthless performance, dismantling Italy with a 36-0 win, led by Dan Sheehan, who scored two of Ireland's six tries.

With this latest triumph, the reigning champions have now won 10 consecutive Six Nations matches, becoming only the second nation, after England (11) between 2015 and 2017, to achieve this feat since Italy joined the Championship in 2000. Ireland enters this upcoming encounter having won each of their last 17 Test matches on home soil, establishing their longest-ever winning streak in Test rugby.

Wales finds itself in a transition period, evident in the challenging first half of their opening match in the competition where they trailed Scotland 20-0, appearing to be in a dire situation. Despite facing adversity, they staged an impressive comeback in the second period, falling just short with a 27-26 loss. The scenario was different in their subsequent match at Twickenham, where they took a nine-point lead at halftime but couldn't replicate the strong second-half performance from the first round, resulting in another narrow defeat as England surged late in the game.

In stark contrast to their upcoming opponents, Wales has experienced difficulties in the last two years, winning only one of their last 10 Six Nations matches and losing the other nine. Additionally, they have faced challenges against Ireland, losing six of their last seven matches, including consecutive defeats in the Six Nations. Notably, Wales has not secured a victory in the Six Nations in Ireland since 2012, a year when they went on to win the Grand Slam.

Ireland is heavily favored with a 22-point handicap when playing at home. Although an Irish victory is highly probable, I believe the handicap is somewhat large, considering Wales's performances both during and after the Rugby World Cup. Under Gatland's coaching, they have become a significantly more competitive team. Therefore, I anticipate the hosts will likely finish within the 22-point margin.