New Zealand vs Australia and Argentina vs South Africa feature amongst Saturday's Rugby World Cup warm up matches and @Olimp_SA have a preview including betting tips
The All Blacks take on the Wallabies in Dunedin and the Springboks face Argentina in Buenos Aires in preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and “The Don” suggests a bet in each game
New Zealand v Australia
New Zealand
The All Blacks are quickly putting to rest any doubts about their winning the Rugby World Cup. They won the Rugby Championship in convincing style hammering Argentina on the road before flying out of the blocks to put South Africa away in Auckland. Australia probably gave them their toughest game in Melbourne last week but the All Blacks still ran out massive victors.
Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Dallas McLeod
Australia
The Wallabies failed to win a game in the Rugby Championship and the pressure is mounting on Eddie Jones. They lost by 31 points to the Springboks in Pretoria and were then beaten 31-34 by Argentina at home. Last week they lost 7-38 to the All Blacks at home a scoreline that perhaps flattered the visitors a bit.
Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Fraser McReight, 5 Richie Arnold, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Pone Fa’amausili, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Izaia Perese
Head to Head
2023 RC Melbourne Australia 7-38 New Zealand
2022 RC Auckland New Zealand 40-14 Australia
2022 RC Melbourne Australia 37-39 New Zealand
2021 RC Perth Australia 21-38 New Zealand
2021 RC Auckland New Zealand 57-22 Australia
The Betting – Click here to bet
New Zealand -22.5 points at 5/6
Australia +22.5 points at 87/100
The Dons Bet – Over 60.5 points at 9/10
Conditions will be perfect and with the Bledisloe Cup already retained by the All Blacks I expect an open game with points flowing.
Argentina v South Africa
Argentina
Despite Argentina finishing 3rd in the Rugby Championship, they will still be going into this bout with confidence after only falling one point short of the Springboks in their meeting last weekend. The Argentine side will see five changes to the squad that played last week with four of those changes being in the backline and only one to the forward pack.
Starting XV: 15 Martin Bogado, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Augustin Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Matias Moroni.
South Africa
The Springboks finished the rugby Championship with a 22-21 win over the Los Pumas at Ellis Park, resulting in them finishing 2nd in the tournament behind the All Blacks. The Springbok team that defeated Argentina will see 14 changes to the starting lineup and a first-time captaincy for Bongi Mbonambi. If the Boks win, it will be their 8th consecutive win over the Argentines.
Starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse
Head to Head
2023 RC Johannesburg South Africa 22-21 Argentina
2022 RC Durban South Africa 38-21 Argentina
2022 RC Buenos Aires Argentina 20–36 South Africa
2021 RC Port Elizabeth South Africa 29-10 Argentina
2021 RC Port Elizabeth South Africa 32-12 Argentina
The Betting - Click Here to bet
South Africa -4.5 points at 17/20
Argentina +4.5 points at 17/20
The Dons Bet – Argentina +4.5
I think this Argentina side are capable of stopping the Springboks winning streak and I am going to back them to beat the handicap.
Prices are subject to change
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