Six Nations Game Week Two rugby tips and predictions – Copybet

Ireland and Italy had contrasting results last weekend and now they face off at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland were outmuscled and outthought by the French in the opening game of the tournament, with Les Bleus winning 36-14 in Paris.

However, the Irish have not become a bad side overnight and with almost two days more recovery time, they should overcome Saturday’s visitors Italy.

The Azzurri picked up a memorable 18-15 victory over Scotland in very wet conditions in Rome last Saturday.

Scoring their only two tries before the downpour at the Stadio Olimpico, Italy clung on to down the Scots in the Eternal City.

However, with so little rugby played in the dry, it’s hard to know how the Italians will actually cope with an Irish side who will be desperate for a response after their woes across the Channel.

Ireland will have a point to prove and the men in green can cover the handicap in this one to bring Italy back down to terra firma.

After that shock defeat in Rome, Scotland will also feel like they have a point to prove when they host England in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.

Saturday’s game will take place on Valentine's Day but there is clearly no love lost when it comes to these oldest of rivals.

Much like Italy, due to those torrential conditions, it’s hard to know how good a rugby team Scotland are in this moment, while there’s huge optimism surrounding England after their 48-7 thrashing of Wales at Twickenham last weekend.

However, Wales were so poor meaning it’s also hard to judge where England are right now and we will have a much better understanding of how Steve Borthwick’s men are shaping up after the full-time whistle in Edinburgh.

Murrayfield has not been a happy hunting ground for the English in recent years, with the Scots winning three of their last four home games against the men in white.

England have come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months and they might be able to edge a tight affair in Edinburgh.

Scotland’s backline are capable of picking up significant points, though, and the hosts with a +7 handicap gets the green light here.

It’s a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for Wales, as they head from that heavy defeat in London into a home clash against the French on Sunday.

France were outstanding against Ireland and it was only perhaps them taking their foot off the gas for 20 minutes in the second half which made the scoreline slightly more respectable at the Stade de France.

Wales’ defence was woeful at times at Twickenham, with England simply walking some of their tries in.

It’s so hard, even with the home fans behind them, to see Wales keeping this one close and France with a -32.5 handicap looks to be the way to go in Sunday’s game.