Top spot in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup is up for grabs at the Stade de France, Paris on Saturday when South Africa clash with Ireland
South Africa v Ireland, Saturday 23rd September, Paris, KO 21:00 (South African time)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
Weather Forecast - Paris
South Africa:
The Boks have 9 log points in this pool with this game and a clash with Tonga to come. They made wholesale changes to their line up for last weekend's match up with Romania and coasted to a 76-0 victory, scoring 12 ties including hat tricks for Mapimpi and Reinach. It was never a contest as the Boks covered a handicap which had settled at around 63.5 points.
South Africa's first pool match came against Scotland. They started as favourites with the main handicap line settling at around 11.5 points and it was one for the minus backers as they came through with an 18-3 victory. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse scored second half tries and Scotland rarely threatened the Bok tryline.
With Malcolm Marx ruled out of the tournament Handre Pollard has joined the squad whilst Eben Etzebeth has recovered from a knock picked up in the win over the Scots.
As far as the RWC outright betting is concerned, at the time of writing South Africa are trading at around 3/1 to win the tournament (favourites) and 13/10 to reach the final with BoyleSports. The betting to top Pool B has South Africa priced up 13/20.
Boyle Sports: Get a 25% payout boost on the Springboks to win the RWC (T&C's apply)
Ireland:
Ireland have the full house of 10 log points with this game likely to decide who finishes top of Pool B although they still have Scotland to come.
Ireland put Tonga away 59-16 in their second match, leading 31-13 at half time and scoring 8 tries to Tonga's 1 to cover a 36.5 point handicap.
Ireland thrashed Pool B minnows Romania 82-8 in their opening match. The pre-match handicap was set in the early 60's and despite conceding the first try Ireland eventually covered it with some daylight.
Earlier this year Ireland pulled off a Six Nations Grand Slam and they haven't lost a game since the opening match of a tour of New Zealand in July 2022 and they hit back to win that series 2-1. When Ireland hosted the Boks in Dublin in November 2022 they came out on top 19-16. That was the first meeting since November 2017 when Ireland thrashed the Boks 38-3 in Dublin.
In the RWC outright betting Ireland are trading at around 44/10 to win the tournament with BoyleSports and 16/10 to reach the final. The same bookmaker prices the Irish at 13/10 to finish top of this pool
Boyle Sports: 20% stake refund if the Boks lose against Ireland (T&C's apply)
Team News
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw
The Betting
South Africa -1.5 points at 9/10
Ireland +1.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This handicap has barely moved all week in what it is fair to say it is the most anticipated game of the Rugby World Cup to date. I am constantly wrestling with myself as to who is going to win the match and the only thing I can conclude at this point is that it is going to be a really close game.
If you do like the Springboks then World Sports Betting do have a promo where you can get your money back in the form of free bets if they lose by 3 points or less. T&C’s on their site. But for now I am going to have a punt that there is no more than 6 points between these sides come the final whistle.
BET: 2 Units, Tribet, any other score at 18/10 at WSB
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any outright points plays on this game
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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