Victory over Bulgaria could put Ireland in a great position

Ireland/Bulgaria, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

If other results go their way on Saturday then Ireland could move ten points clear of their rivals for the Group 8 play-off place with victory over Bulgaria, allowing them to travel to Italy on Wednesday with nothing to lose.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side are already seven points clear thanks to the fact nobody besides themselves and Italy have won a game and with Dimitar Berbatov missing out for Bulgaria things have been set up nicely for Ireland to follow their rugby success with qualification to the football World Cup:

» Bulgaria have gone five games without a win and lasted tasted victory in a friendly away to Bosnia last August.

» Ireland on the other hand have lost just one of their last eight and are unbeaten in their four World Cup qualifiers, winning three.

Posted: March 26th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Can 4/1 Wales steal the Six Nations from Ireland’s grasp?

The 2009 Championship comes to a thrilling climax on Saturday

Wales are 4/1 with Paddy Power and Boylesports - both Irish bookmakers of course - to win the Six Nations. They must beat Ireland by at least thirteeen points to prise away the crown. Is it possible?

YES

» Wales have beaten Ireland on each of the last two occasions where they have met on the final day of the tournament.

» In each of the last five years Wales have had their final match at home and they have won on four of those occasions - against Italy, Ireland, England and France. Wales are also the only team to have won each of their last five home games in the competition.

» In 2007 and 2008 combined, the average win margin on the final day of the Six Nations was 17.7, compared to 13.3 over the first four weeks.

Posted: March 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Ireland should lose the Welsh battle but win the war

IG Sport expect Ireland to lose tomorrow but win the Six Nations

Our friends at spread betting firm IG Sport are here to tell us all about the markets on offer for the final weekend of the 2009 Six Nations:

“Saturday’s rugby union encounter between Ireland and Wales in Cardiff will not only decide the winner of the 2009 Six Nations but could also determine the destination of the ultimate Wooden Spoon. Between 1910 and 1953 France went 24 Championships without winning the competition. That’s the longest period a team has gone without success in the competition.  Ireland’s current run is 23 - even Scotland have won since them!

Posted: March 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Wales turn to Scotland for a bit of help catching Ireland

Key stats for the penultimate set of 2009 Six Nations fixtures

Wales’ hopes of retaining the Six Nations for the first time in thirty years were severely dented by defeat in France a fortnight ago and as a result they will be looking for favours from Scotland and England, who host Ireland and France respectively:

Italy v Wales (3pm, Saturday, BBC1)
Defeat is not an option for Wales but their last trip to Italy ended in a shock 23-20 loss while during their last Six Nations defence in 2006 they were held 18-18 at home by the Wooden Spoon regulars. Wales returned to form by thumping them 47-8 last year but the best price of 1/14 offered by Paddy Power on the away win isn’t good enough value for a team who have won just one of their last three against Italy. Another worry for Wales is that they have won just six of their last away games in the competition but they should still be too strong for a team who have lost eight of their last nine.

Scotland v Ireland (5pm, Saturday, BBC1)

Posted: March 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

When did winning everything become so straight-forward?

Our friends at spread betting firm IG Sport look at Manchester United’s attempts to get their hands on every trophy going…

“When I was a kid ‘the double’ was spoken about with a sense of awe and wonder.  Some folk even doubted it had ever really been achieved; it was the stuff of legend.  Then came the 1990s and teams started doing it for fun, with the double achieved four times in the last six years of the 20th century. Then came the treble and now, well now the Holy Grail has become the quadruple, although there’s a fairly exclusive potential guest list for that one this season.

Manchester United’s next step on their way to the footballing nirvana comes this weekend against Fulham in the FA Cup.  IG Sport are offering an 80 index on that competition which awards 80 to the winner, 60 to the runner-up, 40 to the losing semi-finalists and 20 to the losing quarter-finalists.  United are priced at 53-56 with Chelsea slightly lower at 51-54 and Arsenal 42-45.

Posted: March 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ireland look to capitalise as Wales face their toughest test

Key statistics for this weekend’s three Six Nations matches

Photo Credit: Dylan Martinez/WPA ROTA/PA

Ireland and Wales have won their opening two games but both face tough tests this weekend as Wales travel to France and Ireland host England. If one of the two slip up this weekend it will leave them at a massive disadvantage when they meet on the final weekend. Here are all the important statistics:

France v Wales (8.05pm, Friday, BBC2)
Wales have now won eight straight Six Nations matches but they lost 32-21 on their last trip to France two years ago. Even more worryingly for the tournament’s favourites is the fact that they have won just two of their last eight matches against Les Bleus. Since 2002, France have won seventeen of their nineteen Six Nations home games so the 2.46 that Betfair are offering on them triumphing shouldn’t be sniffed at.

Scotland v Italy (3pm, Friday, BBC1)

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment