We have an Italy v Ireland prediction for you plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of the final weekend in the Six Nations Championship.
How To Watch Italy v Ireland
When is Italy v Ireland
2.15 pm, Saturday, March 15th
TV Channel
ITV 1, STV, RTÉ 2
Who are the officiating team?
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees : Angus Gardner (Australia), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO : Andrew Jackson (England)
FPRO : Tual Trainini (France)
Where is Italy v Ireland
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Italy v Ireland Odds
Team | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Italy | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Ireland | 1/25 | 96.2% |
Draw | 50/1 | 2% |
Italy are currently priced at 7/1 to win this game.
Italy to win - 7/1
Ireland are favourites with odds of 1/25 and the draw is seen as a 50/1 chance.
Ireland to win - 1/25
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Match Betting Enhanced
Italy @ 8/1
Ireland @ 1/20
Draw @ 50/1
Handicap Betting
Italy: +19 @ 10/11
Ireland -19 @ 10/11
Handicap Draw: +19 @ 18/1
Bet on Six Nations Odds at BoyleSports
Team News
Italy Team News
TBC
v Ireland Team News
TBC
Italy v Ireland Preview
Italy Form
Italian Rugby has been on the rise in recent years with them becoming a far more competitive entity on the elite International Rugby scene and no longer the designated Six Nations “whipping team” especially following the appointment of former Stade Francais coach Gonzalo Quesada last year. At the 2024 Championship they only lost to England 24-27, beat Scotland 31-29, drew 13- 13 against Ireland and beat Wales 21-24. Their only poor showing was a 36-0 defeat to Ireland in their opening game.
During the 2024 Summer Internationals they lost to Samoa but beat Tonga and Japan to continue their rise in stature and in the Autumn Internationals despite an opening 18-50 loss to Argentina they recovered to beat Georgia 20-17 and only lost 11-29 against New Zealand.
In their opening Six Nations fixture of 2025, they fell to a 31-19 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield. However, Italy were competitive and early in the second half were only 19-12 down before falling away toward the end of the game. They recovered in the next game for a 22-15 win over Wales before being battered by the French in a 24-73 defeat. Last weekend they were beaten convincingly 47-24 against England at Twickenham Stadium which means they’re only one point above Wales going into the final round of fixtures and the battle to avoid the infamous Wooden Spoon.
Ireland Form
This past decade or so has been a “golden period” for Irish Rugby, with no country more successful in the Six Nations since 2014 winning six of the last fourteen Championships compared with England the next best on three. Their 2024 Six Nations success meant they won back-to-back champions for only the third time in history, emulating the class of 1949 and 2015 another Championship victory would set an Irish record.
Ireland concluded their 2024 with a drawn series with World Champions South Africa in July. In the Autumn Series, they opened it with a 12-23 loss to New Zealand before finishing the season in style with wins over Argentina, Fiji and Australia.
Their Six Nations campaign commenced against potential banana-skin England and though they conceded some late tries they did enough in the early stages to earn a 27-22 win but struggled to break down the English defence at times. In their second fixture, they proved far too strong against the Scots running out 18-32 winners at Murrayfield,
They continued their 100% start to the Six Nations with an 18-27 victory over Wales to continue another Triple Crown success. Though they won a largely rotated Irish side certainly underestimated the underperforming Welsh at the Millenium Stadium.
Despite being favourites ahead of their “Championship Decider” against France last weekend they were outclassed, outmuscled and outstretched losing out in a 27-42 scoreline with a French bonus point putting the Six Nations Championship in their hands ahead of the final weekend of fixtures.
Italy v Ireland Rugby Head-To-Head
All-Time Head-To-Head Record
Italy and Ireland have played each other at rugby union in 37 matches since 1988, with Italy winning 4 times, Ireland winning on 33 occasions and no draws taking place.
Head-To-Head Results Last Five Matches
2024: Ireland won 36-0 at the Aviva-Stadium 2023: Ireland won 33-17 at the Aviva Stadium 2023: Ireland won 20-34 in the Stadio Olimpico 2022: Ireland won 57-6 in the Aviva Stadium 2021: Ireland won 10-48 in the Stadio Olimpico
Trends
Italy’s last win against Ireland came during the 2013 Championship when they won 22-15 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Key Players
Tommaso Menoncello – Italy
Italy have become a more competitive force on the Tier 1 Rugby scene in recent seasons in large part to the emergence of many talented young rugby players. One of those players is Benetton Centre/Winger Tommaso Menoncello who despite being only 22 has already 40 points in 27 tests for Italy.
He is strong, fast with brilliant technique and his talents were awarded the Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2024 becoming the youngest player to do so at 21. That form continued into their opening game against the Scots where he was constantly breaking the Scottish tackles and Scottish defensive line. Following scoreless affairs against Wales and Ireland, he got back on the scoresheet with a 71st-minute try last weekend against England.
Sam Prendergast -Ireland
Ahead of the Six Nations, there was plenty of debate as to who could be their heir to the throne of Johnny Sexton and the #10 jersey, and the Leinster Fly-Half (22) was generally considered as one of the favourites with Sam even admitting his game is heavily influenced by how Johnny played.
He made his Six Nations debut in their opening 27-22 win over England and won Man of the Match in their following 32-18 win over Scotland. His 44 tournament points so far has only been bettered by Thomas Ramos's total of 51.
Italy v Ireland Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Italy 16-34 Ireland
Italy are no longer an easy game for anyone but have generally struggled against Ireland with their last performance of note against them coming at the 2015 World Cup when they only lost 16-9
Ireland’s Championship aspirations are all but gone following their loss against France last weekend but will still want to finish on a high in case France and England slip up.
Ireland to win, but I fancy Italy to score a try or two.
Best Bet: Ireland and Under 61.5 @ 6/5
Ireland and Under 61.5 - 6/5
Bet on Six Nations Odds at BoyleSports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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