New Zealand go into the final round of Rugby Championship matches as firm favourites to win the title, but they will need to beat Australia and probably with a bonus point if they are to justify the current short prices. We take a look at the game from a betting angle.
This match takes place at New Zealand’s fortress, Eden Park in Auckland and there is bound to be plenty of physicality on display early after some of the drama we saw in Australia with plenty of yellow cards and that controversial referee decision at the end which allowed New Zealand to scrum and ultimately the match winning try.
Looking at the current Rugby Championship table New Zealand have 14 log points, the same as South Africa, but they are 13 points ahead on points difference, Australia have 10 log points and Argentina 9. Australia have a mathematical chance of winning the title if they can get above New Zealand on the table and then hope that Argentina beat South Africa.
The latest betting reflects that there is nothing much more than a mathematical chance though and the All Blacks are 11/20, South Africa 16/10 and you can get 66/1 about Australia.
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These sides played out an absolute thriller last time out in Melbourne with that late try from the All Blacks ensuring a 39-37 victory after Australia had come back from 18 points down to grab the lead. Two weeks prior to that New Zealand had hammered Argentina 53-3 at home and their other home game was a 7 point loss to the Pumas.
Australia had a win and a loss on the road to Argentina and at home against South Africa they won 25-17 in Adelaide before going down 24-8 to the Springboks in Sydney.
BETTING – Click here to bet
New Zealand 1/8
Draw 35/1
Australia 13/2
Handicap: New Zealand -15.5
This should be an absolutely cracking game, but Eden Park is not called a fortress for the All Blacks for nothing and their last two games against Australia here has seen them win by 57-22 and 33-25. They will be looking something closer to the 57-22 score if they are to take a Rugby Championship beyond the Springboks reach.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Australia +15.5 at 17/20
I think the Australians are going to be coming out firing after that heart breaking defeat last time out and although New Zealand have such a proud history at Eden Park I am not convinced that they are going to run away with this one and I think Australia can beat the cap.
Punters who enjoy Total Points Bets, the line is set at 50.5 with New Zealand points at 32.5 and Australia 17.5 if I was to have a bet in this market I would be going Australia over 17.5 points.
Click here for betting on all of the Rugby Championship and Domestic Rugby Competition this weekend
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
