Can Ireland Bounce Back and Will England Smash the Scots?
The Six Nations is back for Round 2 this weekend, and things are definitely heating up. After a wild opening round, the log looks completely different to what we expected. Who would have thought Italy would be sitting pretty with a win while heavyweights like Ireland and Scotland are already desperate for points?
Here is a look at the big fixtures coming up this Saturday, 14 February 2026, and our take on how they’ll go.
Ireland vs Italy (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Kick-off: 16:10 (SAST)
Everyone was shocked last week when Ireland took a heavy beating from France (36–14). It wasn’t just that they lost; it was the fact that they didn’t score a single point in the first half, trailing 22–0 at the break. For a team that is usually so disciplined and well-drilled, they looked completely disorganized. The Irish supporters in Dublin will be expecting a massive reaction this weekend. They need to fix their defensive gaps quickly if they want to stay in the hunt for the title.
On the other side, the Azzurri are flying high. Italy made history last week by beating Scotland 18–15 in Rome. Their defense was rock solid, and they didn’t panic even when the rain came down. Usually, teams expect Italy to be the “easy” game on the calendar, but they have shown they can fight with the big boys now.
Prediction: Even though Italy is playing with a lot of confidence, facing a wounded Ireland in Dublin is a different story. Ireland will be angry and desperate to prove a point. Expect the men in green to come out very hard and fast. Italy will put up a fight, but Ireland should have too much power for them in the end.
Our Pick: Ireland to win by 15 points.
Scotland vs England (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Kick-off: 18:40 (SAST)
This is the big one—the Calcutta Cup. The rivalry between these two is massive, and there’s no love lost when they meet at Murrayfield.
Scotland is in a bit of trouble right now. Losing to Italy last week has put huge pressure on their coach, Gregor Townsend, who is nearing a decade in charge. If they lose this match at home, their tournament is basically over before it even really started.
However, they do have a great record against England recently, winning four of the last five matches, so they will be hoping that history repeats itself.
England, however, looks very dangerous. They smashed Wales 48–7 last week and have now won 12 matches in a row—their best run since 2017. Their attack is sharp, and young players like Henry Arundell are scoring tries for fun, with the winger bagging a clinical hat-trick against Wales. They look like a team that truly believes they can go all the way and win the Grand Slam.
Prediction: Murrayfield is never an easy place for England to visit, and the Edinburgh crowd will be loud and hostile. But based on current form, the Roses look much stronger. Scotland’s confidence is low after the Rome debacle, and England is playing excellent, structured rugby. It will be close because it’s a derby, but England should take the cup home.
Our Pick: England to win by 5 points.
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