| Timetable | Saturday, 21st February, 14:00 GMT |
| Prediction | ENGLAND TO WIN! |
| Odds | 1.19 |
| Bookmaker | Lunubet Sports |
Match Prediction 7 of 15 in our 2026 Six Nations betting series.
Prediction accuracy so far: ✔️ 88%.
England's 12-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Murrayfield last weekend, when Finn Russell starred in a 31-20 victory for the Scots. Conversely, Ireland edged a rapidly improving Italy side at Dublin's Aviva Stadium last time out, as they gained their first points of the 2026 Six Nations campaign.
The Three Lions will host Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, 21st February, having lost five of their previous six matches against the Shamrocks. But what insight can we draw from the teams' recent form and historic head-to-head data? We'll answer this question below, while offering our own six nations rugby betting England v Ireland prediction.
🏆England vs Ireland Prediction
England performed superbly during their 12-match unbeaten run, which began following a 27-22 defeat to Ireland at the beginning of last year's Six Nations campaign. However, their kicking game became one-dimensional and ragged in the face of intense pressure from Scotland at Murrayfield, while their discipline also broke down during the first half.
This defeat has raised further doubt about Borthwick and his charges, especially against high-quality opposition on the road. After all, the head coach has yet to travel to Scotland, Ireland or France in the Six Nations and win since his appointment in December 2022, while he often struggles to adjust tactically during matches.
While they'll face Ireland at home next weekend, the Three Lions have defeated the Shamrocks just once in six attempts since November 2020. However, this victory at least came at Twickenham during the 2024 Six Nations Championship, when they prevailed by a single point courtesy of Marcus Smith's last-gasp drop goal.
Since defeating England in Dublin in February 2025, Ireland have won eight of the 12 international matches that they've contested (66.7%). Their four defeats have come via elite opposition too: namely, France (twice), New Zealand and South Africa. However, Les Bleus thrashed the Irish by 22 points to kick off the 2026 Six Nations, with the side looking tactically confused and far too pedestrian in recent months.
Ireland's ageing squad also lacks the precision and drive of even 12 months ago, while it should be noted that England have won nine consecutive home matches since a narrow defeat to South Africa on November 16th, 2024. We believe that the Three Lions hold a slight edge overall, and our England vs Ireland 6 Nations prediction is that Steve Borthwick's men will prevail by a small margin.
Our Prediction: 🏆 ENGLAND TO WIN 🏆
💯 England vs Ireland Betting Odds
According to the early England vs Ireland odds, the Three Lions are significant favourites to win. You can back them to prevail at a price of 1.19 with DirectionBet, with these odds implying an 84.0% probability of this outcome occurring. At first glance, this price appears to be a little short, especially given Ireland's remaining pedigree and run of five victories in their last six games against the English.
Ireland can be backed at a distant 5.85 with 22Bet, suggesting that they have just a 17.1% chance of emerging victorious at Twickenham. These odds may be tempting to some, especially if you believe the actual probability of an Ireland win is higher. Below, you'll find a concise summary of the latest England vs Ireland rugby betting odds. We have also added our recommended betting sites for rugby. Read our top bookmaker reviews to learn more about the bookmakers.
💶 England vs Ireland Six Nations Betting Tips
England vs Ireland rugby 2026 is likely to be a tight and tense encounter, and one that's highly physical and tactical in nature. These factors make it harder to accurately predict a winner, so your choice of betting market and the quality of your analysis will prove key. Fortunately, we've prepared some England vs Ireland betting tips to provide some insight.
Tip 1: Back Ireland With a +10.5 Point Handicap:
The last six matches between these two nations have been won by an average margin of 11.5 points, with Ireland triumphing five times during this sequence. However, the last two encounters were incredibly close and competitive, producing a combined winning margin of just six points.
Both sides have shown vulnerability during the 2026 Six Nations, too. Ireland certainly struggled against the pace and mobility of the French team on matchday one, while the breakdown of England's kicking strategy against the Scots revealed a lack of tactical flexibility under intense pressure.
So, while we expect England to win narrowly here, there's little value in backing them at around 1.18. Instead, consider backing Ireland with a +10.5 handicap, with this helping to mitigate risk and unlocking competitive odds of 1.95 at Lunubet Sports.
This wager unlocks an implied probability value of 51.3%, while it will pay out if Ireland win or lose by 10 points or fewer. It will also pay out in the unlikely event of the match ending tied.
Tip 2: Back England to Win by Between 1 and 7 Points:
Since England's last defeat at Twickenham against the Springboks, they've won nine successive matches by a combined margin of 167 points. This equates to an impressive average winning margin of 18.5 points per game.
The Three Lions have also won their last six matches at home in the Six Nations, including the one-point triumph over the Irish in March 2024. England haven't been defeated at Twickenham in the competition since France thrashed them 53-10 on March 11th, 2023.
This analysis may make you a little more confident of an England win, especially given Ireland's struggles on the road in Saint-Denis two weeks ago. In this case, you could back England to win by a narrow margin of between one and seven points, with this unlocking competitive odds of 4.50 with 22Bet at online bookies.
Tip 3: Back England to Win the Race to 10 Points:
Ireland have started both of their 2026 Six Nations games sluggishly. They trailed France 22-0 after a chastening first 40 minutes at the Stade de France in matchweek one, while Italy opened up a narrow 10-5 first-half lead in Dublin last week.
As for England, they led 10-0 after just eight minutes of their first Six Nations match against struggling Wales. However, they couldn't cope with Scotland's intensity and rapid start at Murrayfield last week, as they shipped 17 points during the first quarter and trailed 24-10 at half-time.
Because of these factors, the Race to 10 points England vs Ireland rugby betting market may be a little tough to call. However, the Three Lions have home advantage and will be looking to rebound from their Calcutta Cup defeat. We also expect the side to adopt a more mixed kicking strategy, potentially unleashing a quick and youthful back row from the outset.
So, get on England to be the first to score 10 points at Twickenham, at odds of 1.40 with TonyBet. This wager unlocks an implied probability value of 71.4%.
✔️ Team England Form
⏪ England Six Nations 2024 Form
England have won eight of their last 12 Six Nations matches (66.7%), dating back to the beginning of their 2024 campaign.
Half of these defeats came during the 2024 Six Nations, with France triumphing 33-31 in a thrilling encounter in Décines-Charpieu and Scotland recording another impressive victory at Murrayfield.
However, this campaign also saw the Three Lions record a narrow 23-22 win over Ireland in London. Remember, this remains their sole triumph over the Irish in six competitive matches.
▶️ England Six Nations 2025 Form
Ireland avenged this defeat in their opening match of the 2025 Six Nations, with Dan Sheehan's late try ultimately proving crucial.
However, this provided an unlikely springboard for the Three Lions' recent 12-game winning sequence, as they initially overcame France, Scotland, Italy and Wales to finish second in the Six Nations table.
England won all three of their home matches in the 2025 Six Nations, and they haven't lost at Twickenham in the competition since March 2023.
✔️ Team Ireland Form
⏪ Ireland Six Nations 2024 Form
Ireland won the 2024 Six Nations, defeating France, Italy, Wales and Scotland while conceding just 60 points (and seven tries) across their five matches.
However, three of these tries were scored by England, who inflicted Ireland's sole defeat of the campaign at Twickenham.
Ireland also shone in attack, scoring more points (144) and tries (19) than any of their opponents overall. Hooker Dan Sheehan tied with Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe as the Championship's top try scorer, notching five in total.
▶️ Ireland Six Nations 2025 Form
Ireland's Six Nations defence finished in disappointment in 2025, as the side ultimately trailed in third behind France and England. However, these teams were separated by just two points, while the Irish still managed to win four of their five matches.
Winners France inflicted their sole defeat in Dublin, prevailing 42-27 thanks to a stellar performance by the precocious full back Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Ireland scored fewer points (135) and tries (14) than they did in 2024, but they avoided defeat in all three of their matches on the road.
England vs Ireland - H2H Stats
England vs Ireland rugby has a rich history, with the first H2H fixture taking place back on February 15th, 1875. England have won 81 of the 143 matches contested to date, with Ireland prevailing 54 times and in five of the previous six encounters.










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A business and iGaming copywriter from the UK, who has a passion for sports betting and remote casino betting. He's reviewed some of the world's leading casino platforms while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands. His content has also been featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.