Ireland vs Wales
5th February 2022 – Kick Off 1415hrs
Rugby – Ireland – Six Nations
Pick Wales +14 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even Money odds taken 19:32 GMT on February 3rd, 2022
Reigning Six Nations Rugby champions Wales start their title defence in Ireland on Saturday.
But the Welsh go into the fixture struggling badly with injuries and they are big underdogs in the match outright for rugby betting.
Will Ireland make the most of this opportunity to get their Six Nations 2022 campaign off to a winning start?
Table of Contents
Ireland Preview – Will Ireland extend winning streak?
Ireland finished in third place in last season’s Six Nations standings having suffered a slow start.
They opened their 2021 campaign away in Wales and came up short in a 21-16 defeat.
A loss against France followed that before the men in green got their act together to win their last three matches in the tournament.
In the match outright for Saturday’s Six Nations 2022 opener, Ireland are the 1/6 odds-on match favourites* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on February 3rd, 2022 at Bet365).
It is an eight-match winning streak of form that Ireland are currently on.
During last year’s Autumn Internationals, there was a brilliant home win for the Irish.
They banked a 29-20 success over New Zealand, a display full of grit, determination and more promise of an open approach.
They closed out their Autumn Internationals with a 53-7 win over Argentina.
So Ireland are bringing confident form to the table, and they are never a team to easily knock over in Dublin.
Ireland have won all but one of their last thirteen home matches since the start of 2020 (L1).
The one defeat in that sequence was a 15-13 loss against France in last season’s Six Nations.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell hasn’t really made too many changes in what looks like a familiar set-up.
Winger Mack Hansen does make his Ireland debut in the match.
All but two of the starting fifteen for Ireland on Saturday were involved at the start of their big win over New Zealand in the Autumn.
Ireland have won four of their last five matches against Wales (L1).
On home turf, Ireland have won four on the spin and have won their last three in Dublin against Wales in Six Nations meetings
Wales Preview – Can understrength Wales challenge?
There’s no secret that Wales are going into the Six Nations with a depleted squad.
They have been dealing with a huge amount of injury issues that may scupper their Six Nations title defence even before the big kick-off.
Wales came through to lift last season’s title, with four wins out of five.
The match outright for rugby betting on the weekend, Wales are 6/1 underdogs* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on February 3rd, 2022 at Bet365).
That is the size of the task ahead of them.
Josh Adams comes into the centre for the first time in their Six Nations 2022 opener, where he partners up with Nick Tompkins.
Back in the Autumn, a much-changed Wales side took a win over Australia.
While the victory was by a single point, that was a huge boost of confidence for Wales mentally having had so many regular starters missing.
13 of the starting 15 that kicked off against Australia, started on Saturday against Ireland.
While Wales closed out 2021 with back to back wins (an unconvincing 38-23 success over Fiji preceding the victory over Australia), it’s been only three wins for Wales in their last eight international matches.
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Wales came flying out of the gates in last season’s Six Nations, beating Ireland, Scotland and then England.
That put them in the driving seat with their easiest game to come against Italy in their fourth match, which they duly won.
Wales couldn’t get the better of France in their final match of last year’s Six Nations, missing out by two points.
Then came a very tough start to the Autumn Internationals where they drew with Argentina before losing to the Pumas in their second meeting.
Wales then crashed against New Zealand and South Africa.
They did respond with those two victories but face such a big challenge in Dublin without the likes of Willis Halaholo, George North and Johnny Williams.
Only one of the last four meetings between Ireland and Wales have been settled by a margin of fewer than six points.
Ireland vs Wales Betting Advice
This is a Six Nations opener that Ireland will be fully expecting to win against an understrength Welsh side.
The boost that Ireland received with their hard-fought win over New Zealand in the Autumn, should see them take this.
The men in green do have current form behind them, but it’s a Wales +14 handicap that is in play here for rugby betting* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on February 3rd, 2022 at Bet365).
Key Facts – Ireland vs Wales Betting Tip
- Ireland are on an eight match winning streak
- Ireland have won their last three Six Nations home matches against Wales
- Wales have won three of their last eight international matches
No one really expected Wales to get close to Australia in their Autumn International, but they dug it out.
There were some very poor performances from Wales before that in the Autumn Internationals last year.
But a gritty, spirited performance in Dublin should at least see them stay within two converted tries on the scoreboard.
An Ireland 1-12 winning margin is the pick at 17/10* (odds recorded 19:32 GMT on February 3rd, 2022 at Bet365).
The best betting odds for Ireland vs Wales
Ireland to win: 1/8 at Bet365
Draw: 33/1 at Bet365
Wales to win: 6/1 at Bet365
