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

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

Wales look for first successive wins over England since 1989

Previews of all three of this weekend’s Six Nations matches

Wales coach Warren Gatland has raised the stakes ahead of his team’s home clash with England by accusing them of being negative. The New Zealander says his opponents have gone “backwards in term of positivity” under Martin Johnson and claims they are “clearly trying to get a win no matter how”. Will he be proved right? Here are the key stats for this weekend’s action:

France v Scotland (3pm, Saturday, BBC1)
Les Bleus have beaten the Scots in nine of their last ten encounters and a decade has passed since the visitors last triumphed in France. It’s very unlikely that an upset will take place. Besides one victory against regular wooden spoon winners Italy in 2006, you have to go back to 2002 (Wales) to find Scotland’s last away win in the Six Nations. France haven’t lost successive Six Nations games in the same year since 2001.

Wales v England (5.30pm, Saturday, BBC1)

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