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Ireland vs Scotland betting tips:
- Scotland +14.5 points - 4/6 with bet365
- Under 45.5 total points - 9/10 with BetVictor
- Rory Darge to score a try - 8/1 with Unibet
It’s all or nothing for Six Nations rivals Ireland and Scotland with a quarter-final place from Pool A on the line this Saturday.
Ireland’s 16-game winning streak and eight victories in a row against Scotland holds them in good stead as they only need a win, a draw or two losing bonus points.
However, the Scots could progress by winning either with a bonus point or by denying their opponents any bonus points in a victory.
A difficult quarter-final (New Zealand or France) would await a successful Ireland regardless of where they finish in the group, so a momentum-building performance will be demanded by Andy Farrell.
Betting sites are braced for another fascinating fixture, as are we with our three predictions on this encounter.
Scotland are spirited scrappers
When he was asked by a reporter at a press conference during the week about how this clash with Ireland will be any different from any of the previous eight, their coach Gregor Townsend identified some drought-breaking wins both in Paris and in London in 2021 as proof that his team don’t let such curses hold them down.
The Scots have put in some strong defensive performances of late, keeping the Springboks to less than 20 points (albeit without scoring a try in response), collecting another Six Nations win in Twickenham this year as well as defeating France once and conceding just 27 points across two clashes with Italy.
Ireland came out on top 22-7 in their Six Nations meeting earlier this year, but Scotland have improved since then which has us feeling confident that they can narrow the margin, although it may not be good enough to end Ireland’s imposing winning streak.
We’re eyeing up bet365’s ladder of alternative handicaps to back Scotland with a +14.5 head start, which also covers us if they go and win.
Tip: Scotland +14.5 points - 4/6 with bet365
A history of low scores to continue
The previous meeting between these sides has influenced our next bet. Ireland piled on some big scores against Romania and Tonga leading into this clash, but no other side has allowed them to clear 40+ points since Italy in the 2022 Six Nations.
Of Ireland’s eight straight wins over Scotland, only two exceeded the main handicap of 45.5 total points offered by bookmakers (average: 36.3 total points).
Scotland conceded between 19 and 31 points on all eight occasions, scoring an average of only 11.5 in reply, and with everything at stake we’re anticipating that they’re going to be a difficult defence to get through just as they were against South Africa.
To add to our reasoning, Ireland’s last five matches against Tier 1 opponents all finished ‘under’ the main total points handicap, beginning with the last meeting between these teams.
Tip: Under 45.5 total points - 9/10 with BetVictor
Darge a danger to Ireland
Scotland No 7 Rory Darge is in imperious try-scoring form for a flanker and we’re sizing up the price on offer for him to sneak another one across here.
The Glasgow flanker has found the line in four of Scotland’s last five matches, including a 30-27 loss against France, with most of those tries coming from quick balls played from a ruck close to the line.
The one exception was in the 18-3 loss to South Africa. Ireland are likely to present a similarly difficult wall to get through, but his tries haven’t come in particularly easy fashion and he keeps finding a way across.
The latest Rugby World Cup odds give him an 8/1 chance of scoring a try against Ireland. Given the frequency with which he has been recording tries lately, we’re prepared to take on those odds, particularly as he is back in the starting XV.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
