Ireland are looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat in France on the opening night of the Six Nations 2026.
It was a sobering evening for Andy Farrell’s and his men, with Les Bleus further highlighting the gulf in class between the teams, which has emerged in recent years.
The defeat means Ireland’s hopes of regaining the Six Nations crown are already fading, but a positive response against Italy in Dublin would be a great first step towards recovery.
Check out our full Ireland vs Italy preview below, and we have picked out some online betting tips based on the latest Six Nations odds available on NetBet Sport.
Ireland vs Italy Preview
As is the case with any Six Nations match, this really is a must-win for Ireland, especially with an away game against England on the horizon.
The Irish will be well aware of the fact they were outplayed at the Stade de France, aside from a mini recovery in the second half. The 36-14 scoreline in favour of the hosts was certainly a fair reflection of proceedings.
But a return to the Aviva Stadium and the passionate supporters should help to reignite the fuse within Farrell’s squad.
Of course, Ireland lost their previous home match 24-13, though that was against the seemingly unbeatable world champions South Africa.
Ireland recorded impressive Dublin wins over Japan (41-10) and Australia (46-19) back in November, which was the perfect response to a 26-13 loss vs New Zealand.
Italy also felt the wrath of South Africa last year, losing twice away from home (42-24 & 45-0). Those failures were then followed by a 32-14 loss to the all-conquering Springboks in Rome.
However, the Italians’ 18-15 victory over Scotland last weekend was not their only major scalp in the last six months, as they also beat Australia 26-19 back in November.
So Ireland will be well aware of the quality possessed by their opponent, especially after the close encounter at the last Six Nations, in which the Irish eventually won 22-17 in Rome.
Ireland vs Italy Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Unsurprisingly, Ireland are the massive favourites to pick up their first win of this Six Nations campaign at a price of just 1.06. An unlikely Italian victory in Dublin is at odds of 9.40.
Ireland vs Italy Betting Tips
Points handicap | Ireland -17.5 @ 1.97
Okay, even though we have highlighted the potential threat posed by Italy in this Six Nations clash, we fancy Ireland to really strut their stuff in Dublin. On paper, the hosts have the superior players, and are still capable of blowing any team away. If the Irish score early, things could unravel for the spirited Italians. Lest we forget, the last time the two teams met in Dublin back in 2024, the hosts won 36-0!
Ireland total points – Over 35.5 @ 1.88
The Italians have conceded over 35.5 points in each of their last three away matches. On top of the aforementioned losses in South Africa, Italy were beaten 47-24 by England at Twickenham in the last Six Nations. And Ireland have scored over 35.5 points in two of their last three home matches, so this looks a great pre-match selection.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information. When the fun stops, stop.
