Scotland vs Ireland
14th March 1500hrs
Rugby – Scotland – Six Nations
Pick Scotland To Win
Bookmaker Coral
Odds: 6/5 odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March
Scotland return to action for the first time in a month, having had their match against France in the third round postponed.
So how will they handle the extended break as they play host to the Irish at Murrayfield on Sunday?
A win for Scotland would move them ahead of Ireland in the standings, while the Irish will be looking to put some positive form on the board.
Table of Contents
Scotland Preview – Can the Scots prevail at home?
Scotland have lost 17 of their 21 games played against Ireland in the Six Nations.
Heading into Sunday’s showdown with the men in green again, Scotland are the 6/5 underdogs* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March).
So that is a pretty tight market and that’s understandable.
Scotland opened the campaign with a major upset in beating England at Twickenham.
Then they were edged out by a single point at Murrayfield against Wales, who had lined themselves up with a shot at a Grand Slam.
Scotland’s scheduled game against France on February 28th has now been pushed back, so that leaves Scotland without action for a month.
How much will that affect their chances on Sunday?
In their last 10 meetings with the Irish, Scotland have only claimed the one win and are currently on a five-match losing streak against them.
But in the Six Nations, the Scots have won two of their last four against them at Murrayfield.
So that does offer them a glimmer of hope and they are, as a rugby nation, in a pretty decent place at the moment.
Scotland’s defeat against Wales last time out, ended a run of four straight Six Nations victories that they put together.
A Scotland +2 handicap for the match is at even money* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March).
In their last four home games against Ireland, Scotland’s two wins over them have been by a margin of five points or less.
Their two defeats were by margins of at least 9 points.
Just once before has Scotland managed to finish above Ireland in the final standings of a Six Nations Championship.
They have a big chance in front of them to make that happen and a win here would strongly move them towards it.
Ireland Preview – Can the Irish improve their fine record against Scotland?
The 2021 Six Nations campaign opened with back to back defeats for Ireland, those happening against Wales and France.
That was the first time ever that Ireland had lost their opening two matches of a Six Nations campaign.
They did come up with a response, as expected, in their third match which was against Italy.
In the match outright Ireland are 5/6 to improve their excellent record against Scotland in the Championship* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March)..
There are three changes to the Irish starting XV from their drubbing dished out to the Italians.
In all but one of their last seven Six Nations matches against Scotland, Ireland have scored at least three tries.
There is a quote of even money on Ireland To Score First in the match* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March).
It has, overall, been a disappointing campaign for Ireland with narrow defeats against Wales and France.
Their story could have been a lot different and regardless of this, they will face a dead rubber against England on the final weekend of action.
So Ireland will be looking for a bit of a spark, a boost in form ahead of that one.
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Ireland had made more carries and more metres than any other team over the first three rounds of action.
Will Connors is their top try scorer in this seasons’ campaign having run in two.
Ireland have a tough couple of matches ahead of them and given what they have produced so far, do need to find a bit of an extra gear.
Ireland have scored at least 22 points in each of their last three visits to Murrayfield in the Six Nations.
We expect them to be close to the Scots but we also expect this to be a really tough and physical battle.
Scotland vs Ireland Betting Advice
There is not much to split the two teams at the moment and Scotland perhaps just look the likelier of the two.
If Murrayfield was going to be packed out then we would expect that to be an even stronger case.
We can make a case still however for the home win and the 6/5 odds on the Scotland outright has some appeal* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March).
Key Facts – Scotland vs Ireland Betting Tip
- Scotland have won 4 of their last 5 Six Nations matches
- Scotland have only 4 Six Nations wins against Ireland
- Ireland are on a five-match winning streak against Scotland
We haven’t seen quite enough of Ireland and them cutting lose to beat a really poor Italy side says nothing.
They will be feeling the pressure at Murrayfield, but we think that Scotland can exploit Ireland who have been giving needless opportunities to opponents in this campaign.
The Scotland 1-7 winning margin option is is our pick for some extended odds in rugby betting at 10/3* (odds taken 21:39 GMT, Saturday 13th March).
The best betting odds for Scotland vs Ireland
Scotland to win: 6/5 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Ireland to win: 5/6 at Bet365
