Six Nations: Omens in Ireland’s favour for record win over Wales
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Having dealt with England in Dublin, Grand Slam-chasing Ireland head to Cardiff to play a resurgent Wales team intent on keeping their own championship hopes alive.
It’s a huge match at the Millenium Stadium given the stakes and judging by the proximity of odds, there isn’t a vast difference in the two team’s chances.
However, the very fact that Ireland are odds-on at 5/6 to win in Wales’ backyard, actually speaks volumes.
Wales, priced up as 11/10 chances, may have overcome an opening defeat to England to record victories in France and Scotland, but Joe Schmidt’s visitors are currently the best national side in Europe.
If the Men in Green can negotiate a third Six Nations win against Wales in a row, then they’ll break the an Irish record for consecutive Test wins by reaching 11 games.
Wales may be blessed with plenty of experience and talent, especially in their much-vaunted centre pairing of
Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts, but Warren Gatland’s men can’t match the game management and tactical nous of Ireland.
Central to that of course, is the man Wales fly-half Dan Biggar described as the ‘best in the world’ in his own position during the build up to the match, Jonathan Sexton.
Having hobbled off with a hamstring injury in the second half against England, Ireland’s playmaker getting passed fit is a huge boon to his side’s chances.
The returning Leinster half-back’s kicking both in terms of accuracy between the posts and crucially in open play to create pressure, is unrivalled and 29 Six Nations points during the 2015 edition isn’t bad either.
In the Irish pack Paul O’Connell will once again be a colossal presence and the iconic lock has a chance to mark a century of Irish caps with a famous victory.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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