South Africa and the British & Irish Lions meet in the 3rd and Final Test match in Cape Town on Saturday and we take a look at the match from a betting angle.
Both the 1st and 2nd Tests started virtually level in the betting with both matches taking place in Cape Town. The 1st Test saw the Lions come from 12-3 down at half-time to win 22-17, but a week later it was the Lions who led 9-6 at the break only for the Springboks to storm back with a 27-9 victory. The match was a stop-start affair which no doubt suited the Boks and they will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday.
In the 1st Test it was the Lions who dominated the aerial battle and achieved parity up front, but in the 2nd Test in the final 40 minutes it was the Boks who dominated in the air and crucially in the set piece and rolling mauls.
The Boks have been forced into a few changes with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Faf de Klerk injured.
South African Team
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Damian Willemse
The Lions clearly had the intention to speed the game up against the Springboks, but they failed to get enough quality ball to do so and have also had to resort to the kicking game something they will have to improve going into the 3rd Test if they hope to win the series.
The Lions have made a number of changes, freshening up the back line in particular.
British & Irish Lions Team
15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Captain), 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Finn Russell, 23 Elliot Daly
BETTING – Click here to bet
South Africa 13/20
Draw 22/1
British & Irish Lions 15/10
Handicap: South Africa (-3.5) at 9/10, British & Irish Lions (+3.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: South Africa (-3.5) at 9/10
I am not surprised that Gatland has made a number of changes in the back line and he can only hope that fresh legs will get the job done as his side looked well and truly out on their feet in the final stages of the 2nd Test.
South Africa looked a bit under-cooked in the 1st Test, but they came on very nicely in the following week and didn’t seem to be lacking any fitness in running away with the 2nd Test.
It is hard to see how the Lions are going to be able to turn things around and I think the Boks can win this one by 4 points or more.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
