Rugby World Cup Tips and Previews, Oct 21-22
Argentina vs. New Zealand
21st October
Are the All Blacks back? At $1.06 with Bet Nation, the market certainly believes so.
The 2011 and 2015 champions were given a lesson by the home nation, France, in the tournament opener (27-13). Still, they’ve since steadied the ship with an easier draw against Namibia, Italy, and Uruguay.
The All Blacks’ biggest test came against the favourites in the quarters, where they eventually triumphed by four points and proved to the world they’ve recaptured their most scintillating form. More impressively than anything, 90% of NZ’s possessions ended in a positive outcome against Ireland, but they’ll now need to re-focus and avoid thinking their toughest test is behind them.
The biggest positive for the Argentinians is the school of thought that they’re peaking throughout this tournament. After comprehensively losing to England 27-10 in their first Group match, the Pumas looked to quickly rebuild their confidence against Samoa, Chile, Japan, and Wales. They’ll need to make history to overcome the All Blacks, given their nation has never made a World Cup final.
With NZ having won five of their past seven against Argentina, including their last two Tests by a combined total of 79 points, the Pumas will need to record a career peak to come close to the champs.
Suggested Bet:
C. Taylor anytime try scorer at $2.20
England vs. South Africa
22nd October
Despite their undefeated status throughout the World Cup, the Englishmen will go into their semi-final as $5.25 underdogs against the giant-killing South Africans on Sunday morning.
The Red and Whites, ranked 5th in the world standings, cruised through Pool D with wins against Argentina, Japan, Chile, and Samoa before defeating the might of Fiji 30-24 in their quarter-final. The most interesting part of their victory over the Fijians is that they scored fewer tries (2-3) but made up for it with five successful Owen Farrell penalties.
As for the South Africans, they’ll be chock full of confidence after they produced the upset of the tournament with a one-point triumph over France. Despite trailing 22-19 at half-time, the top-ranked Springboks found a way with an Eben Etzebeth try and a Handre Pollard penalty in the 69th minute.
The last time the World Cup was held in France (2007), England was dismantled by South Africa 36-0 in the pool stages before putting on a stronger performance and falling by just nine in the final.
More recently, the South Africans delivered a knockout punch in the 2019 WC Final with a 32-12 victory over the English.
There’s little doubt the Boks should still win this game; it’s just a matter of how close the English can push them.
