Wales takes on Ireland in a Rugby Six Nations schedule clash that will excite fans and bettors. However, both teams are headed in different directions.
Ireland has been on a recent winning streak, taking home their last five contests. On the other hand, Wales has been struggling. They have dropped four of their previous five matches.
Look for this matchup to impact Rugby Six Nations standings directly. Ireland will look to solidify their position while Wales tries to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Overall, this clash offers one of the best Rugby Six Nations picks. Wales is expected to come out strong in their tournament debut, but the much stronger Irish side should prove too much for Wales.
Wales vs. Ireland Information
Rugby six nations: Wales vs Ireland
Location of the game: Principality Stadium. Cardiff, Wales.
Date: Saturday, February 4. 9:15 AM EST
How to watch: BBC One | BBC Sport livestream.
Rugby six nations: Wales vs. Ireland Analysis
Wales Performance Recap and Analysis
Wales has been going through a rebuild in the last year. New coach Warren Gatland inherited an underachieving team that led to Wayne Pivac’s firing after last season. Gatland has been known to get the best out of his players. A strong effort will be needed for Wales to pull out the tournament’s first upset.
The Welsh side has lost four of its last five contests. Wales dropped its previous game 39-34 against Australia in November 2022. After that, Wales dropped a tough 13-12 decision against Georgia but beat Argentina 20-13. Then, unfortunately, Wales was blown out 55-23 by a far superior New Zealand squad. Finally, a 30-34 loss against South Africa rounds out Wales’s last five games.
The set piece seems like Wales’s best chance to beat Ireland. The six Ospreys in the forward pack should provide Wales an excellent focal point.
This rugby Wales vs Ireland prediction shows the odds stacked against Wales. Their last five games are an indication that Wales has been struggling. However, the Welsh squad needs everything in its arsenal to give Ireland a run for its money.
Wales Key Injuries
Leigh Halfpenny will be a noticeable absence for Wales. He is out with a back injury.
Wales Betting Trends to Know
- Wales has lost five of its last six matches against Ireland.
- Wales has dropped five of its previous six matches in Six Nations tournament play.
- Ireland demolished Wales 29-7 in their last meeting.
Ireland Performance Recap and Analysis
Ireland has been firing on all cylinders, winning five in a row. So, this rugby Wales vs Ireland prediction heavily favors Ireland over Wales. Ireland is the top-ranked team in the world following wins over New Zealand in a three-game series in 2022.
Irish coach Andy Farrell will look to get his squad over the hump, as Ireland has been known to peak before tournaments only to falter on the big stage. Ireland is known for their disciplined style of play. They handled the collision area well and should get plenty of counterattack threats from Hugo Keenan.
James Low and Mack Hansen round out a solid back three. However, Ireland needs to ensure it gets the fundamentals right. Simple mistakes may open the door for Wales to make the game close.
The Irish squad won their previous contest against Australia 13-10. The Irish have added a 35-17 win over Fiji, a close 19-16 decision over South Africa, and convincing back-to-back wins over New Zealand by a combined score of 55-44.
Rugby Six Nations stats show Ireland winning their last five games by a combined score of 122-77.
Ireland Key Injuries
This team heads into this contest with a full squad.
Ireland Betting Trends to Know
- Ireland has outscored Wales 136-71 in the last five meetings.
- Ireland has won five in a row over Wales.
Wales vs. Ireland Odds
Ireland enters this matchup as the heavy moneyline favorite at -235.
Wales vs. Ireland Betting Picks
Moneyline: Ireland (-235), Wales (+227)
The 29-7 score in these two clubs’ previous meeting suggests this matchup will not be close.
Spread: Ireland -11.5 (+140), Wales +11.5 (+140)
Oddsmakers expect a blowout considering the combined 136-71 score in these two teams’ last five meetings.
Total Points: O40.5 (+100) U40.5 (-116)
Ireland should win this match by a wide margin but expect a close game overall.
Wales vs. Ireland Score Prediction
This match’s rugby Wales vs Ireland prediction shows Ireland topping Wales 25-14.
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