The semi finals of the Rugby World Cup take place this weekend and @Olimp_SA have a preview including betting tips for Argentina vs New Zealand and England vs South Africa
Rugby World Cup Semifinals, Betting preview
Following some intensely contested quarterfinal matches we can look forward to 2 Rugby World Cup Semifinals taking place on Friday and Saturday. In this preview, "The Don" will delve into the matchups and share his bets.
Argentina vs New Zealand
Argentina's journey to the quarterfinals saw them clinch their spot by winning three out of four group stage games, securing second place in Pool D. In the quarterfinals, they squared off against Wales, who had topped Pool C with a perfect record of four wins. It was a hard-fought battle between the two teams, but a late intercept try by Sanchez provided Argentina with the crucial advantage. This try gave them a comfortable lead, resulting in a 12-point victory, with the final score standing at 17-29.
In a fashion similar to Argentina, New Zealand earned a spot in the quarterfinals by winning three out of their four pool stage games and finishing second in their pool. In the quarterfinal, they faced Ireland, who had topped Pool B. New Zealand stormed out of the gate, quickly notching up the first 10 points of the game. Although Ireland made a comeback before the end of the first half to narrow the deficit, New Zealand displayed remarkable precision and efficiency in the second half. This impressive performance saw them secure a 28-24 victory, securing their place in the semifinals.
Verdict
Both teams have followed a similar trajectory to reach the semifinals although New Zealand certainly had the tougher quarterfinal opponent. The All Blacks also beat Argentina convincingly away from home in the Rugby Championship and are worthy favourites here. I expect a win for New Zealand but I think this Argentina side will push them closer than many expect.
The Don’s Play
New Zealand to win by 8-14 points inclusive at 27/10
To Bet on Argentina v New Zealand– Click Here
England vs South Africa
England enjoyed a highly successful pool stage, winning all four of their games and securing a place in the knockouts before even playing their final game. In the quarterfinals, they faced Fiji as the 8 point favourites and despite letting Fiji back into the game in the final quarter England held their nerve and got up by 6 points thanks to a late drop goal and penalty from Owen Farrell.
During the pool stages, the Springboks secured three wins out of four games, successfully navigating their way out of what was considered the most challenging group. Their only loss was to Pool winners Ireland 8-13. In the quarterfinals, they were pitted against the host nation, France who started slight favourites. With a total of seven tries scored in this high-stakes game, South Africa managed to eke out a crucial victory by just a single point to set up a repeat of the 2019 final against England.
Verdict
I am expecting this to be a much tighter game in terms of playing styles than the quarterfinals and ultimately I think the Boks will get on top taking 3 points when available before drawing clear in the 2nd half for a similar result to the 2019 final. I am backing the Boks to get 29 points or more.
The Don’s Play
South Africa to score more than 28.5 points at 17/20
To bet on South Africa v France– Click Here
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