We take a look at Round 2 of the Rugby Championship taking place on Saturday, the 15th of July including the All Blacks v Springboks game which is likely going to be a Rugby Championship decider.
Let’s start with the look at the Outright Betting where New Zealand have shortened into 11/20 favorite’s while South Africa are 16/10, you can get 15/1 Australia and 115/1 Argentina.
Click here for Rugby Championship Outright Betting
NEW ZEALAND v SOUTH AFRICA – Click here to bet
Punters should note although the game takes place in Auckland it is not at Eden Park, but at the Mount Smart Stadium.
New Zealand
There was lots of talk about Argentina beating New Zealand when they hosted them in Round 1 of the Rugby Championship last week, but it took about 10 minutes for Argentina punters to realise that they were in big trouble. The All Blacks stepped off the gas a bit in the second-half, but still managed a 41-12 win, scoring 7 tries.
South Africa
South Africa were also up against a well backed opponent in Australia who fancied their chances of an upset win at Loftus. An early Australian try was the only highlight for the visitors as the Boks dominated them in all facets of play for a 43-12 win.
Head-to-Head
These sides met twice in the Rugby Championship last year with New Zealand winning 35-23 in Johannesburg and the week before that South Africa had won 26-10 in Nelspruit. Their last meeting in New Zealand came back in 2019 in Wellington where the sides drew 16-16.
Handicap: New Zealand -6.5
Squads
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Braydon Ennor, 23 Caleb Clarke
South Africa: 15 Willem le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mampimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Francois de Klerk , 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Smith, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzbeth (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Rudolf Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Daniel Johannes Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Immanuel Libbok
VERDICT
The Boks have been well backed this week after an opening line of +11.5 was available and it has come in 5 points to the current line of +6.5. I think we are in for a very tight game and I am going to have a go at the Tri Bet meaning either side can win the match, but not by more than 6 points.
Suggested Bet: Tri Bet, any other result at 31/20
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AUSTRALIA V ARGENTINA – Click here to bet
These sides will meet at the Western Sydney Stadium directly after the All Blacks v Springboks match.
Both sides will be desperate for the win after embarrassing first round defeats.
Australia
The Wallabies started 7 point underdogs in their game against the Springboks at Loftus, but after taking a 5-0 lead they were blown away and the match was over as a contest long before half-time. Eddie Jones has made a number of changes and he will be desperate for a win on home soil.
Argentina
There was some talk before Argentina’s game against New Zealand that they may be a bit rusty with a number of their players having returned from the Top 14. That was certainly the case as they were blown away by the all Blacks conceding 3 tries in their opening 12 minutes and there was no coming back from that point as they lost by 29 points.
Head-to-Head
These sides met twice in Argentina last year with Argentina winning 48-17 in San Juan and Australia 41-26 in Mendoza. Their last meetings in Australia were in 2021 when the Wallabies won 32-17 at the Gold Coast and 27-9 in Townsville.
Handicap: Australia -9.5
Squads
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (captain).
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Josh Kemeny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Carter Gordon
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Hahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni
VERDICT
I am expecting the Wallabies to come out firing and I am backing them to score 15 points or more before the break.
Suggested Bet: First-Half Australia Total over 14.5 points at 5/6
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
