Ireland vs Wales
13th November 1900hrs
Rugby – Ireland – Autumn Nations Cup
Pick Wales +9 handicap
Bookmaker 10bet
Odds: Even money odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November
The Autumn Nations Cup rugby competition starts on Friday night with this Ireland vs Wales clash.
Hot on the heels of the Six Nations conclusion, comes this eight-nation event.
To start it all off for rugby betting, we look at this Group A contest between Ireland and Wales from Dublin.
Table of Contents
Ireland Preview – Can Ireland deliver another win over Wales?
Ireland met Wales at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in this year’s Six Nations competition. That was back in early February.
It was a 24-14 win that Ireland collected in that match, the Irish picking up a bonus point for their four tries in the match.
Ireland are the 2/7 odds-on favourites in the match outright for this Autumn Nations Cup meeting* (odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November).
It is a three match winning streak that the Irish are now on against Wales.
It is also a three match winning streak in Dublin that they are on against the Welsh.
So it’s reasonable enough to assume that the men in green are going to come out on top again in this latest meeting.
At the end of the Six Nations campaign, Ireland were right there playing for the title, but missed their shot in a defeat in Paris.
In the handicap market for rugby betting here, an Ireland -10 option is at 10/11* (odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November).
Looking back at recent meetings, not one of Ireland’s last four wins have managed to go above that line.
So it may be just worth dialling it back a little bit or going for the Wales +9 at even money in the search for a bit of extended value* (odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November).
Going into the contest, Ireland do look a lot more settled and consistent than their opponents and that’s why we think this is going to be a home win.
Wales Preview – Wales in a tough spot at the moment
The transition from Warren Gatland to Wayne Pivac has not gone well for Wales who are on a four match losing streak.
The Welsh opened their Six Nations campaign with a comfortable home success over Italy.
But then it was all downhill from them as they lost their last four games. That culminated in a home defeat against Scotland.
Before that game against Scotland, Wales had played an international friendly match in Paris and were hammered by the French.
So in total the Welsh are without a win in five now.
There are clear problems in creativity for them at the moment.
Pivac talked a lot about how Wales were going to develop a new open attacking style. That hasn’t happened.
But that perhaps is not their biggest worry at the moment. In defence they have looked a complete shadow of their former selves.
In rugby betting for the Autumn Nations Cup opener, Wales are the 3/1 underdogs* (odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November).
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Wales have looked wide open at the back and the influence of former defensive coach Shaun Edwards (who joined France) has been hugely missed.
We don’t see Wales being strong or organised enough in those defensive areas to keep Ireland contained for 80 minutes.
There is a lack of confidence and direction it would seem as well in the Welsh camp. They don’t look as strong in the ball carrying department to hit Ireland hard enough up front either.
Wales will face Georgia and then England in this group following this opener. So this is a huge game for them and they badly need to look forward.
Ireland vs Wales Betting Advice
It is the Ireland win that we are looking at for Rugby Betting in this Autumn Nations Cup opener. We don’t see Wales doing enough in Dublin.
But even though Wales have been struggling, they did only suffer narrow defeats against France and England during the Six Nations.
So we are going to go with the Wales +10 handicap* (odds taken 04:21 GMT Thursday, 12th November).
Key Facts – Ireland vs Wales Betting Tip
- Ireland beat Wales 24-14 in this year’s Six Nations
- Ireland are on a three-match winning streak against the Welsh
- Wales have lost their last five international matches
There doesn’t look to be the defensive organization in the Welsh ranks to get the result that they need in this one to leave themselves open for a run at top spot.
This is a good chance for them to start rebuilding however and finding a new groove.
But Wales have won only four of the last eleven matches against Ireland. So along with poor current form also have head to head stacked against them.
The best betting odds for Ireland vs Wales
Ireland to win: 1/4 at Bet365
Draw: 25/1 at Bet365
Wales to win: 3/1 at Bet365
