Category: Rugby
Rugby Betting
As the Southern Hemisphere rugby season draws to a close, the one last commitment of the season for these players is their trip to Europe for nineteen intriguing and mouth-watering international fixtures.
Teams from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji have arrived in Europe to face testing away ties against the Six Nations sides with any number of old scores to settle. The progress made by Ian McGeechan’s Lions side in South Africa in the summer cannot be underestimated and his touring side came close to beating the world’s best side from a standing start. Martin Johnson, Warren Gatland et al will want to continue that progress and record some good performances with only twenty or so international ties remaining between n and the 2011 World Cup.
South Africa take on France, Italy and Ireland in November looking to reinforce their position as the world’s best side. They dominated the recent Tri-Nations beating New Zealand both home and away and only losing one match, a 21-6 reverse to the Wallabies in Brisbane. With world class players including captain John Smit, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez, the World Champions are a terrific side and it looks unlikely that any of their three opponents will have enough to beat them.
Their tie against Ireland in late November is likely to be the highlight of the autumn international series as the Springboks come face to face once again with many of the Lions that came so close to defeating them in the summer. Grudge match? For sure.
New Zealand arrive in Europe having already lost four matches in 2009. Considering it is rare that the All Blacks lose four matches between World Cups this is the nearest New Zealand rugby comes to a crisis. Three defeats to South Africa and a home defeat by France have led many, including Wales coach Warren Gatland, to publicly state they believe the All Blacks are vulnerable and losing their aura of invincibility.
New Zealand open their campaign against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Wales have famously failed to beat the All Blacks in fifty six years but many believe this is their best chance in a generation. Wales are 10/11 with a twelve point start and, although they have only avoided a double digit defeat to Graham Henry’s side once in fourteen attempts, this could be their chance.
Wales then face Samoa and Argentina - two matches that Warren Gatland’s side will be looking to win.
Australia are in a transitional period at present and continue to build towards the 2011 World Cup. With five defeats out of six in the Tri-Nations and a 32-19 defeat to the All Blacks last weekend the Wallabies are on a poor run of results although they looked comfortable in a 36-5 victory over Gloucester earlier this week.
They face England first, a team who will be looking to make a statement of intent to world rugby after a year of mixed results and performances. With 27 players injured, Martin Johnson has had to think and rethink his starting XV but with a promising midfield combination of Jonny Wilkinson and Shane Geraghty and the experience of Lewis Moody and Steve Thompson, the home side could see off their old rivals at 5/4.
Martin Johnson’s team will also be looking to avenge their 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Pumas in June when they take on a talented Argentina side later this month before their final match against New Zealand at Twickenham.
Of the other sides, Samoa take on France, Wales and Italy whilst Fiji face Scotland and Ireland. The Fijians have beaten Japan, Tonga and Samoa this year and so are an improved side, whilst although Samoa have plenty of firepower they shouldn’t achieve enough possession to trouble Wales or France.
Other matches to watch out for are the match-ups between France and South Africa and France and New Zealand which both promise to be combative affairs. Scotland will hope to defeat the transitional Wallabies side at Murrayfield and Italy finally get the chance to prove themselves against a top side when they take on South Africa in Udine.
I expect each of the Southern Hemisphere sides to lose at least one Test to their European rivals over the next few weeks and by the end of the month we should have a much better picture of who is improving, and who still has much work to do on the road to New Zealand in 2011.
