Ireland return to the Aviva Stadium looking to steady their Six Nations campaign after a bruising defeat in Paris, while Italy arrive with confidence following an impressive Round 1 victory against Scotland.
Despite that heavy opening round defeat, the Irish go into this game as 17-point favourites against an Italian outfit brimming with confidence. Historically, this is a fixture that Ireland have dominated but the form points to a closer contest this time around in Dublin.
Find out everything you need to know below ahead of this game including our Ireland vs Italy prediction, odds, and betting tips.
Ireland vs Italy Prediction – 6N 2026
Match Details
Ireland vs Italy Match Details
Venue : Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee : Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
How to Watch Ireland vs Italy
Ireland’s Round 2 Six Nations clash with Italy takes place on Saturday, 14 February 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 14:10 GMT. In Ireland, coverage will be shown live on Virgin Media Television, while viewers in the UK can watch on ITV.
Betting Odds
Ireland vs Italy Betting Odds – Six Nations 2026
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Ireland | 1/12 | 92.3% |
Italy | 13/2 | 13.3% |
Draw | 40/1 | 2.4% |
Ireland are overwhelming favourites at 1/12, with Italy priced at 13/2, while the draw is available at 40/1.
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Handicap Betting
Ireland -17 @ 10/11
Italy +17 @ 10/11
Handicap Draw (-17) @ 18/1
Ireland vs Italy Handicap Prediction – 6N 2026
Tryscorer Odds
Try Scorer Betting
Player | First Try Scorer | Anytime Try |
|---|---|---|
Dan Sheehan | 13/2 | 4/6 |
Robert Baloucoune | 7/1 | 3/4 |
James Lowe | 9/1 | Evens |
Cormac Izuchukwu | 12/1 | 6/4 |
Craig Casey | 12/1 | 6/4 |
Dan Sheehan is the clear favourite to score the first try at 13/2 and is also shortest in the anytime market at 4/6. Debutant Robert Baloucoune follows at 7/1 first tryscorer and 3/4 anytime, while James Lowe is priced at 9/1 for the opener and Evens to cross at any stage.
Ireland vs Italy First Tryscorer – 6N 2026
Team News
Team News
Ireland Starting XV
1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tom Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu (debut), 7 Caelan Doris, 8 Jack Conan, 9 Craig Casey, 10 Sam Prendergast, 11 James Lowe, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Robert Baloucoune (debut), 15 Jamie Osborne
Ireland Replacements
16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O'Toole, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Jamison Gibson-Park, 23 Jack Crowley
Ireland make six changes from Round 1, introducing Ulster debutants Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu following their heavy defeat to France while Leinster’s experienced James Lowe returns at 11 in place of Jacob Stockdale who is dropped from the 23-man matchday squad.
Italy Starting XV
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Michele Lamaro (capt), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Leonardo Marin, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 14 Louis Lynagh, 15 Lorenzo Pani
Italy Replacements
16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Paolo Odogwu
Italy arrive after an 18–15 victory over Scotland, bringing continuity and renewed belief into this Dublin fixture.
Form Guides
Form Guide
Ireland were beaten 36–14 by France in Round 1, conceding 29 unanswered points before late scores from Nick Timoney and Michael Milne.
Italy defeated Scotland 18–15 in Rome, with tries from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello proving decisive.
Head-to-Head
Ireland vs Italy Head-to-Head
Ireland and Italy have played 38 times in international test match rugby. Ireland have traditionally dominated this matchup with 34 wins from those fixtures, while Italy have just 4 wins, notably only one of those victories coming since the turn of the century. With that said, recent encounters point to Italy closing the gap and becoming increasingly competitive.
Recent Meetings
Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
15 March 2025 | Italy 17 – 22 Ireland | Rome, Italy |
11 February 2024 | Ireland 36 – 0 Italy | Dublin, Ireland |
5 August 2023 | Ireland 33 – 17 Italy | Dublin, Ireland |
25 February 2023 | Italy 20 – 34 Ireland | Rome, Italy |
27 February 2022 | Ireland 57 – 6 Italy | Dublin, Ireland |
These two sides last met in the 2025 Six Nations, where Ireland edged a tight contest 22–17 in Rome. The match was far more competitive than many expected, with Italy showing significant progress and pushing Ireland deep into the final minutes.
In 2024, however, Ireland enjoyed one of their most emphatic results in the modern era of the fixture, defeating Italy 36–0 in Dublin — a reminder of how clinical the Irish can be when in form.
The last time Italy beat Ireland on Irish soil was in 1997. The Italians will surely view this as a great chance to repeat that feat as they appear to be on the rise while Ireland look wounded after a heavy defeat in Paris last week.
Betting Tips
Ireland vs Italy Betting Tips
Italy +17 @ 10/11
Italy ’s recent performances demonstrate a team that no longer collapses under scoreboard pressure. In fact, Italy have not lost by more than 19 points in their last four matches, signalling a shift toward defensive resilience and improved game management under coach Gonzalo Quesada. Their opening‑round win over Scotland further showcased that tactical maturity, with Italy maintaining control and absorbing second‑half pressure to close out a tight victory.
On the other side, Ireland enter this clash carrying visible fragility. Their heavy defeat to France included a 22–0 halftime deficit, underlining issues in cohesion, physical dominance and attacking fluency. With this backdrop, expecting Ireland to suddenly produce a vintage, multi‑try blowout feels unrealistic.
A +17 handicap hits the sweet spot: tight enough to reflect Italy’s current competitiveness, but still offering a solid margin of safety.
Ireland to Win by 1-12 Points @ 21/10
This margin‑based pick aligns with the most credible storyline for how the match should unfold. Ireland remain favourites at home, but signs point toward a narrower victory rather than a routine 20‑ to 30‑point rout. Italy arrive with genuine confidence after their deserved win over Scotland, a performance characterised by defensive bite and smart game management.
Ireland, by contrast, are in a transitional moment. Their loss to France exposed structural issues that are unlikely to be fully corrected in a single week. A controlled but hard‑earned home win in the 1–12 range fits the current trajectory of both teams.
Dan Sheehan Anytime Try Scorer @ 4/6
Dan Sheehan is statistically one of the most prolific forwards in Six Nations history and remains Ireland’s primary maul finisher. He has a proven record of scoring against Italy, including a hat‑trick in last year’s meeting between the sides.
Ireland’s most reliable attacking platform remains the driving maul, and Sheehan’s positioning at the tail makes him a consistent beneficiary of that structure. Given Ireland’s need for a controlled response performance, expect them to lean heavily on high‑percentage set‑piece opportunities.
Prediction
Ireland vs Italy Prediction – Six Nations 2026
Prediction: Ireland 31–20 Italy
Italy’s recent performances demonstrate a team that no longer collapses under scoreboard pressure. In fact, Italy have not lost by more than 19 points in their last four matches, signalling a shift toward defensive resilience and improved game management under coach Gonzalo Quesada. Their opening‑round win over Scotland further showcased that tactical maturity, with Italy maintaining control and absorbing second‑half pressure to close out a tight victory.
On the other side, Ireland enter this clash carrying visible fragility. Their heavy defeat to France included a 22–0 halftime deficit, underlining issues in cohesion, physical dominance and attacking fluency. With this backdrop, expecting Ireland to suddenly produce a vintage, multi‑try blowout feels unrealistic.
The most credible script sees Ireland eventually asserting home control but without pulling away dramatically. A margin in the 1–12-point range aligns with current form lines and competitive balance.
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