Round 5 of the Rugby Championship gets going on Thursday with Australia hosting New Zealand at the Marvel Stadium in Docklands, Melbourne. We take a look at the game from a betting angle.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where New Zealand have shortened into 11/20 favourites ahead of the Springboks at 12/5, Australia 15/2 and you can get 35/1 about Argentina.
Click here for the latest betting
The log is still incredibly tight with New Zealand on 10 points, 1 point ahead of the other 3 teams with two matches left to play.
Australia had beaten South Africa 25-17 in Round 3, but they failed to follow up on that performance last time out getting beaten 24-8 by the Springboks with both of those tests taking place in Australia. They had previously played a double header in Argentina winning the 1st Test by 15 points before getting well beaten by 31 points in the 2nd.
The All Blacks have also had an up and down campaign, but in week 4 they turned in their best performance with a 53-3 thrashing of Argentina, that after been beaten 25-18 at home by the Argentines the week before.
The All Blacks started their campaign in South Africa where they lost by 16 points in Nelspruit, by came back to win by 12 points in Johannesburg.
TEAMS
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (captain).
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Nic White, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Jordan Petaia
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Scott Barrett, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Quinn Tupaea
BETTING – Click here to bet
Australia 7/2
Draw 30/1
New Zealand 2/7
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Australia +10.5 at 17/20
This has been one of the hardest Rugby Championships to predict, but despite New Zealand’s impressive form last time out I did feel that Argentina were a far cry from what they had been since defeating the All Blacks the week before and I think that Australia can push them all the way here.
Another betting option I fancy is New Zealand to win the game, but by under 12.5 points and that is priced up at 16/10.
Will Jordan has had a quiet tournament to date, but I am looking to him to open the scoring and will back him at 8/1 to get the first try and if you fancy one of the hookers to go over look no further than Dane Coles who will be wearing jersey 16 as an anytime try scorer at 15/10.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
