Couch Critic previews the Tri Nations clash between Australia and New Zealand and this weekend's Mitre 10 action including best bets with @Olimp_SA
Were it not for an 80th minute Irish try and conversion it would have been a cracking punting weekend from this side of the couch. Dupont, Otago and the All Blacks delivered nicely and both the extended handicap call as well as the HT/FT margin play looked on course until the very last move of the game in France. We lace up the boots and go again this weekend.
Australia vs New Zealand – Saturday 07 Nov @ 10:45, Suncorp, Brisbane
Dave Rennie might be a new broom but the All Blacks certainly made a significant mess of things for him to clean up in Sydney as the visitors blew the Wallabies off the park to get the newly formed Tri-Nations under way. The Kiwis blitzed the Aussies with four tries in the opening half hour and there was no way back for the home side from there.
Richie Mo’unga was in sharp form and Michael Hooper and his chargers will be happy to see that he has been handed a break this week. Unfortunately for the men in yellow it means Beauden Barrett is back in his preferred position of flyhalf. Outside him there will be a hungry man-mountain in the form of Laumape. The pack shouldn’t be much weaker having Scott Barret, Codie Taylor and Akira Ioane in the run-on side.
In the Aussie camp the big news is the inclusion of Reece Hodge as pivot in the number 10 jumper. Hodge often switches between 15 and 13 (as well as the wing) but this will be only his second start at flyhalf for the Wallabies. There has been radical changes to the backline in general as Nic White, Koroibete and Jordan Petaia are the only backs who remain unchanged from Sydney. In the pack Rennie continues his search for a bigger physical presence as he gives Lachie Swinton a start at blindside.
Betolimp Bets:
The single digit gift of last week is well and truly in the past this time around. The All Blacks have little to prove whilst all eyes will be on the bounce-back of the hosts. The amount of changes on both sides could point to a bit of a scrappy start but the pure hunger to come back from utter humiliation last week should see the Wallabies start with a hiss and a roar. I doubt they will be able to keep it up though. Will Jordan and D Mac off the bench in the last quarter could be devastating!
HT/FT Margin – Australia (1-8) / New Zealand (13+) @ 19.00
Additional Plays
Favourite Betolimp Mitre 10 Plays
Southland vs Otago (Friday 06 Nov), Otago -8.5 @ 1.80
Otago are fresh off beating Canterbury whilst Southland came up short against Manawatu. The Stags have been superb at home but this time around the weather looks set fair and that will offer the visitors the chance to unleash Koroi, Tomkinson and Vahaakolo.
Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R3,000 here
(Note, all odds quoted are subject to change)
Couch Critic
