Rugby World Cup betting tips: Back England to overcome first half Argy-bargy
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ENGLAND VS ARGENTINA
SUPER Mario used to smash his head against brick walls to make it through to the next level and that’s exactly what his namesake, Argentina Head Coach ‘Super’ Mario Ledesma, will be expecting of his forwards when they take on England this Saturday.
The Pumas are known for taking teams on up front, dominating the scrum and winning the contact area.
Coach Ledesma has also placed the rolling maul from a lineout right at the top of the list of plays for his side and that must be effective if Argentina are to do what they haven’t done against England in the last decade, win.
Against Tonga, their second match of this Rugby World Cup, the pack dominated, with hooker Julian Montoya charging his way over the whitewash from inside the five-metre line on three occasions.
What will disappoint the Pumas is that they failed to convert their dominance up front into points for the backs.
As the old saying goes, the forwards decide who wins the game and the backs decide by how many, or at least that’s what the pack are told.
If the Pumas can win the battle up front against England then they will go very close to an upset, but this isn’t a vintage set of Argentina forwards and Eddie Jones’ pack is one of the best in world rugby.
After a rousing rendition of the Argentine national anthem, the South Americans will come out firing and cause England problems in the opening stages.
We could have a very tight scoreline at the interval, but as those Argentine forwards begin to tire, England have the likes of Courtney Lawes and Mako Vunipola to bring off the bench and do the damage as the game wears on.
Jack Nowell being added to the list of finishers is a nice boost for England too and they look to have enough to run away with this game in the closing stages.
Sporting Index, who now offer fixed odds alongside their spread betting service, have some markets on the first-half handicap betting and the 4/6 on Argentina (+7.5) appeals.
It’s always nice to have a small first tryscorer bet running in the first half too, and George Ford showed us last week exactly why when slicing through the USA to dot down at odds of 20/1.
I think he’ll do well to get around the Argentina fringes with such ease on Saturday, but England will likely find gaps out a little wider and winger Anthony Watson could be the man to follow at a general 8/1.
England would do well to pull away by more than a converted score against a tough Pumas pack in the first 40 minutes, but it’s the second period where we could see the damage done for England.
The Red Rose are priced at 5/1 to extend the winning margin and prevail by 16-20 points.
SOUTH AFRICA VS ITALY
The other standout fixture over the next couple of days kicks off this morning with South Africa and Italy facing off in a must-win game for the former World Champions.
Italy currently top the group, but they’re faced with their biggest test yet in the shape of a Springboks side that will be fresh from demolishing neighbours Namibia.
Italy have quietly built a solid team in recent years, and a no-nonsense pack is backed up by a skilful and quick backline, so don’t be surprised if the game is close at half-time.
The half-time handicap sits at +8.5 for Italy, and at 5/4 that looks good value.
However, the sheer strength of the Boks’ bench is what will turn this game, with players such as Steven Kitshoff and RG Snyman to enter the fray against tiring Italian legs, and the final score could be very unflattering.
South Africa to win and over 51.5 points is 5/6 with Sporting Index’s fixed odds, and a second-half blowout could be on the cards for Rassie Erasmus’ men.
POINTERS
Italy HT (+8.5) 5/4 Today
South Africa and Over 51.5 5/6 Today
Anthony Watson First Tryscorer 8/1 Tomorrow
Argentina HT (+7.5) 4/6 Tomorrow
England by 16-20 5/1 Tomorrow