Rugby Tips: Predictions & Odds For The Weekend Games At The Rugby World Cup
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Rugby World Cup Predictions:
- Chile To Score Last - 7/1 With BetUK
- Half-Time/Full Time Georgia/Fiji - 11/2 With Coral
- Scotland To Win By 56-60 Points - 5/1 With William Hill
- Portugal +17.5 points - 9/5 With BetVictor
- Tonga To Score First - 4/1 With 888sport
The Rugby World Cup continues to press forward and with five games due to take place this weekend, UK betting sites are doing a deep dive into what punters can expect from each contest.
Scotland and Romania are set to lock horns in Pool B at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Saturday with reigning champions South Africa taking on Tonga in Stade Velodrome, Marseille in the same pool on the following day.
There are also some intriguing battles on the horizon in Pool C with an in-form Fiji coming up against Georgia at Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday.
Having had somewhat contrasting fortunes in their previous games, Australia and Portugal will battle it out for victory at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
Very much still in the mix for a knockout spot, Argentina will meet World Cup newcomers Chile in Pool D at Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Saturday.
A number of the games listed above are expected to be one-sided affairs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting tips to be found within each of them.
Below, we examine what is the best value on offer for all five Rugby World Cup games that are taking place on the weekend.
Chile Will Look To Fight To The End In Historic Argentinian Contest
While it is an historic first clash between two South American nations at the Rugby World Cup, the anticipation is that Argentina will bag a bonus point win with ease against Chile in Pool D on Saturday.
A win is vital for the Pumas if they want to keep their knockout hopes alive, but Michael Cheika’s outfit will ideally want to come away with a bonus point - just as Japan, Samoa and England have done in their victories over the Chileans.
Yet in spite of their washout in a 71-0 hammering at the hands of the English, Chile did manage to register tries in their showdowns with Japan and Samoa.
They will want to sign off on their first World Cup campaign on a high and will undoubtedly battle right up until the final whistle.
Argentina won’t want to let up either, but there is every chance that the underdogs will round off the scoring in Nantes.
At the time of writing, the best betting sites for rugby union are offering 7/1 on Chile being the team to score last in this South American derby.
For those looking for a leftfield betting option this weekend, it is hard to look beyond this one.
Tip: Chile To Score Last - 7/1 With BetUK
Lead Could Change Hands In Fiji vs Georgia Fixture
Of all the games being held this weekend, the Saturday meeting of Fiji and Georgia looks like the one that is hardest to call.
The Fijians garnered some well-deserved praise in the wake of their outstanding victory over Australia, but Georgia have the tools to make life difficult for the Pacific Islanders.
They come into this game on the back of sharing the spoils with Portugal in their previous pool fixture and will throw Pool C wide open again if they do manage to get over the challenge posed by Fiji.
Their upcoming rivals remain the safe bet, but it might be worth pursuing the idea that Georgia may lead at the interval only for the Fijians to have taken control by the end of 80 minutes.
Coral are offering odds of 11/2 on Georgia/Fiji being the leaders at Half-Time/Full-Time and that is worth a look.
Tip: Half-Time/Full Time Georgia/Fiji - 11/2 With Coral
Big Scottish Winning Margin Expected
Just like Ireland and South Africa before them, there is an expectation that Scotland will make hay against Romania in Lille on Saturday.
Realistically, Gregor Townsend’s men need to seal a bonus point win to give themselves a fighting chance of being in contention for the knockout rounds ahead of their final pool clash with Ireland.
After registering seven tries over the course of a 45-17 success last Saturday against Tonga - who are a more accomplished outfit than Romania - this is something they should be able to manage without too much fuss.
The big question really is, how many points will they win by? To date, Romania have shipped 74 and 76 point defeats to Tier One opponents.
While Scotland aren’t as consistent, in terms of either results or performances, as their previous heavyweight counterparts, Townsend’s troops are currently ranked fifth in the world and have enough firepower to get the job done with considerable aplomb.
Although they may fall short of the winning margin enjoyed by the reigning World Cup and Six Nations champions, it seems likely there will be a sizeable gap come full-time on Saturday.
At the present moment, the 5/1 odds being offered by William Hill on Scotland winning by between 56 and 60 points is looking extremely appealing.
Tip: Scotland To Win By 56-60 Points - 5/1 With William Hill
Australia And Portugal Clash Throws Up An Interesting Handicap
Despite being on the receiving end of a chastening 40-6 defeat to Wales last Sunday - a result that leaves them on the brink of a first-ever pool stage exit at the Rugby World Cup - Australia are still clear favourites to overcome Portugal on Sunday.
Their form thus far suggests nothing is a racing uncertainty when it comes to the Wallabies and depending on how Fiji get on against Georgia, their elimination from the World Cup might already be confirmed before they kick-off in Saint-Etienne.
Yet pride will nevertheless be at stake and with the likelihood being that Eddie Jones’ side will bounce back, it is perhaps more interesting to look at the handicap for the game as opposed to merely predicting the winner of the contest.
Of the handicaps on offer, the 9/5 that BetVictor are placing on Portugal +17.5 could entice a number of punters.
Tip: Portugal +17.5 points - 9/5 With BetVictor
Tonga Will Look For A Quick Start Against South Africa
Despite showing flashes of attacking intent, Tonga have suffered heavy reversals to Ireland and Scotland to date at the World Cup and will now have to face down a South Africa side that are eager to make amends for last weekend’s loss to Ireland at Stade de France.
Still, it is entirely possible that Tonga could cause them problems over the course of the tie and Toutai Kefu’s side will hope to show some fight in the early exchanges after a couple of disappointing outings.
Even though South Africa are practically unbackable as the team to score first on Sunday, the 4/1 that 888sport are offering for Tonga to break the deadlock could well be worth exploring.
Indeed, it was Romania who drew first blood in their 82-8 defeat to Ireland, so it isn’t always the case that the favourites steamroll the opposition from the opening minute until the end of the proceedings.
Tip: Tonga To Score First - 4/1 With 888sport
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