After a short break International rugby is back and we cast our eye over the opening fixtures of the Rugby Championship which gets underway on Saturday.
Let’s start with a look at the Rugby Championship Outright Betting where New Zealand are trading at 10/11 favourites, South Africa are 29/20, Australia 5/1 and Argentina, the rank outsiders are 35/1.
Click here for Rugby Championship Outright Betting
SOUTH AFRICA v NEW ZEALAND
This test match has got plenty of attention in the build-up mainly due to the fact that New Zealand rugby is at its lowest ebb in living memory having suffered a home series defeat to Ireland and that on the back of some poor results on their November year end tour in 2021.
Let’s start with a look at the Boks form though and they edged the opening Test against Wales before making 14 changes and conceding the lead late in Bloemfontein, allowing Wales in to level the series. The decider took place in Cape Town and South Africa were too strong winning by 16 points, but it was certainly not plain sailing.
The All Blacks won their first Test match against Ireland in convincing fashion thanks to a 4 try burst before half-time. The Irish though picked themselves up and were deserving winners of both the 2nd and 3rd Test matches.
Matches between South Africa and New Zealand have been very tight in this Tournament over the last few years and in 2021 it was South Africa who won 31-29 on the Gold Coast while New Zealand edged it 19-17 in Townsville. Both games took place in Australia due to COVID-19.
BETTING – Click here to bet
South Africa 15/20
Draw 22/1
New Zealand 13/10
Handicap: South Africa -1.5
Suggested Bet: South Africa win at 15/20
I am going to keep this simple and go for a Bok win. New Zealand will be hurting for sure, but this Bok pack and the bomb squad coming off the bench should be too strong for a New Zealand side that appears to be lacking in the tight 5.
ARGENTINA v AUSTRALIA
Argentina just edged Scotland in a thrilling 3 match series in July. They got off to a winning start taking the 1st Test by 8 points before getting well beaten by 23 in the 2nd they then won an absolute thriller 34-31 to take the series.
The Wallabies lost their 3 match series against England despite winning the 1st Test 30-28, a result which favoured the English with 2 late tries. They failed to find any momentum in the next two Tests though losing by 8 points in the 2nd Test and 4 points in the last Test for a disappointing series defeat.
Australia did the double over Argentina in the Rugby Championship last season winning 32-17 on the Gold Coast and 27-9 in Townsville.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Argentina 21/10
Draw 25/1
Australia 9/20
Handicap: Argentina +5.5
Suggested Bet: Tri Bet, Any Other Result at 29/20
For this bet to arrive we need a close match and either side can win but not by more than 6 points and the draw is also in our favour.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
