Italy vs Ireland U20 Predictions - Ireland to see off Italy in World Rugby U-20 Championship 9th-place play-off.

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Nigel Williams 1 hour ago

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Ireland have won 3 of last 5 matches vs Italy, including the latest 30-27 win.
Both teams won their last semi-finals (Italy over Georgia, Ireland over Fiji).
Ireland tipped to cover the -9.5 handicap in this U20 rugby matchup.

Ireland to see off Italy in World Rugby U-20 Championship 9th-place play-off. (Getty Images)

Italy vs Ireland U20 Predictions

Ireland are favourites after winning the most recent meeting between the sides. My best bet is Ireland to cover the -9.5 handicap.

Italy vs Ireland U20 Predictions
Head to Head
Italy U20 Form
Ireland U20 Form
Team News

Italy beat Georgia 43-19 in the 9th-place semi-final.
Italy has won 3 of their last 5 matches.
Ireland has won 3 of the last 5 matches against Italy.
Ireland beat Fiji 24-19 in the 9th-place semi-final.
Ireland has won 3 of their last 5 matches.

Head to Head

Ireland has won three of the last five matches against Italy.

In their most recent matchup during the 2026 U20 Six Nations on February 13, 2026, Ireland claimed a hard-fought 30-27 victory.

Italy U20 Form

Italy defeated Georgia 43-19 in the ninth-place semi-final of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Kutaisi. Italy dominated the first half and withstood a late Georgian fightback to secure the win, keeping their hopes alive for a ninth-place finish.

Italy took control of the match in the first half, establishing a commanding 43-14 lead by halftime with tries by Jaheim Wilson (2), Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, Pietro Celi (2), and Luca De Novellis. Mattia Andretti kicked five conversions and one penalty.

Italy has won three of the last 5 matches, beating Georgia 43-19, Japan 41-25, and Wales 20-13.

Ireland U20 Form

Ireland defeated Fiji 24-19 in a closely contested ninth-place semi-final at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi, after leading 14-12 at halftime. The match was fiercely contested and filled with errors and cards, with five players sent to the sin-bin, including two from Ireland.

Tries were scored by Daniel Ryan, Diarmaid O'Connell, and James O'Leary, while Daniel Green added the conversions and penalties.

Ireland has won three of their last five matches, beating Fiji 24-19, USA 73-22, and Scotland 47-14.

Team News

Italy

Starting XV: 1 Emiliano Mastropasqua, 2 Valerio Pelli, 3 Erik Meroi, 4 Simone Fardin, 5 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 6 Antony Italo Miranda, 7 Davide Sette, 8 Jaheim Noel Wilson, 9 Mattia Andretti, 10 Roberto Fasti, 11 Luca Rossi, 12 Riccardo Casarin, 13 Giacomo Falchetto, 14 Luca De Novellis, 15 Pietro Celi.

Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte, 17 Giacomo Messori, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Fabio Salvanti, 20 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 21 Nikolaj Varotto, 22 Alessandro Ragusi, 23 Alessio Scaramazza.

Ireland

Starting XV: 1 Max Doyle, 2 Duinn Maguire, 3 Blake McClean, 4 Joe Finn, 5 Donnacha McGuire, 6 Josh Neill, 7 Alex Lautsou, 8 Diarmaid O'Connell, 9 Christopher Barrett, 10 Charlie O'Shea, 11 Daniel Ryan, 12 James O'Leary, 13 Rob Carney, 14 Charlie Molony, 15 Daniel Green.

Replacements: 16 Rian Handley, 17 Adam Cooper, 18 Luke Murtagh, 19 Sean Walsh, 20 Charlie Keane, 21 Luke Coffey, 22 Sean Walsh, 23 Jack Deegan.