Rugby Betting Tips: Jonny May come good in All Blacks clash
ENGLAND’S last triumph over New Zealand came down to a minor scoring oversight and an emphatic super over in the Cricket World Cup, and another nail-biting clash between the two nations is expected tomorrow.
Rugby union is the game this time around, a sport in which New Zealand have dominated like no other, and many are expecting the All Blacks to earn some revenge for the Black Caps’ defeat at Lord’s.
England carried the favourites’ tag to victory in the Cricket World Cup over the summer and now it’s the turn of New Zealand to prove why the bookies made them 6/5 before a ball was kicked, caught or knocked on in Japan.
After three comfortable victories, and a slightly closer opening win over tournament second favourites South Africa, they are now odds-on to lift a third straight Webb Ellis Cup.
The All Blacks are yet to get out of fourth gear, though I don’t think they’ve shifted down to third either, constantly keeping the pressure on sides and playing with a high level of skill and intensity throughout.
It’s virtually unarguable that the All Blacks are comfortably the best side in the world, and if you take away both South Africa and England, most would accept that Steve Hansen’s men are head and shoulders above the rest.
The task in hand for England this Saturday is huge and any victory would go down as a piece of rugby union folklore.
New Zealand have won 18 Rugby World Cup matches on the bounce, stretching all the way back to a narrow loss to the unpredictable French in 2007, and it’s hard to see that run being halted tomorrow.
However, England are far more of a test for the All Blacks than Ireland, who were slammed 46-14 last weekend, and this should be a close one.
It’s a side that feels as though it’s coming good at exactly the right time, with the likes of Kyle Sinckler, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill finally taking real ownership of the jersey, while the experienced heads are still in there fighting too.
Like tomorrow’s opponents, Eddie Jones’ men have dispatched four nations with the minimum of fuss and none more so than Australia, who were on the wrong side of an impressive 40-16 scoreline last Saturday.
Only one of those matches ducked under a total of 50 points and England have also scored 21 tries, higher than their historical World Cup average of 3.4 scores per game.
Though this is a tight game to call, there’s a good chance we will see plenty of tries – as has been the theme of this tournament so far – and buying on Sporting Index’s Total Tries index could be the way to go.
The spread betting specialists have this one at 3.7-4.1 which looks a shade too low and could turn a small profit.
A riskier but potentially more profitable punt is Jonny May’s Try Minutes. The firm price this at 10-13, meaning if he fails to cross the whitewash, which has only happened in four of his last 10 appearances for the Red Rose, you’ll lose 10 times your stake, but any tries scored from 13 minutes onwards, you’ll be set for a handsome profit.
Just because two of the world’s top sides are facing off on the biggest stage of them all, it doesn’t have to be a cagey affair and a flutter on those try markets looks the way to go.
WALES V SOUTH AFRICA
SUNDAY’S Rugby World Cup semi-final sees South Africa face Wales in a thrilling matchup.
Wales narrowly triumphed against France in controversial circumstances, whilst the Springboks firmly ended the Japanese fairytale.
Despite Cheslin Kolbe failing a fitness test, Rassie Erasmus’s side looks very strong, particularly in the forwards with a big, mean, experienced pack that the South African’s have typically been associated with over the years.
While Wales are no pushovers up front either, much will depend on the fitness of their backline. Jonathan Davies was a late withdrawal from the quarter-final, and the influential centre will be key if he can be fit in time.
Josh Adams has also had an exceptional World Cup and will be looking to add to his five tries, as will South African flyer Makazole Mapimpi.
Sporting Index’s supremacy market sits quite low in favour of South Africa at 6-9.
The emotional quarter-final against France looked to have taken a lot out of Warren Gatland’s side, while conversely South Africa physically dominated Japan and could afford to take their foot off the gas in the last 10 minutes.
With the sheer talent available in the Springbok pack, and the power off the bench, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pull away from a tiring Welsh side in the final quarter of the game, which is where the value comes in.
Wales stand just one game away from their first World Cup final appearance, but with influential flanker Josh Navidi also added to a growing injury list, this looks to be just a step too far yet again for the Welsh.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Buy Total Tries 4.1
Buy Johnny May Try Minutes 13
POINTERS SUNDAY
Buy South Africa Supremacy 9