Rugby League World Cup Week 3, Tips and Previews
Australia vs. Italy
October 30th
Make no mistake about it, Australia is the dominant team in this World Cup, and it looks like there is no stopping them.
Nathan Cleary is continuing his claim as the best player in the world after a flawless performance in the thrashing of Scotland. While there were six changes from the team that annihilated Fiji in the first week, it’s still hard to find any weak points in the Kangaroo’s line-up.
Italy is reeling from losing to Fiji and has a mountainous task ahead of them here.
Captain Nathan Brown needs to improve from his showing here, but he is familiar with many of the Australian attacks, including Cleary, whom he has made life hard for in the past.
Even if Brown can get in the face of the Australian star, there is just too much firepower around him to ensure anything but another big win for the Australians, but the 71.5 line seems a little too high.
SUGGESTED BET:
Italy +71.5 at $1.90
Tonga vs. Cook Islands
October 31st
Markets suggest this should be the closest to the final round of preliminary games. Tonga has had a quality tournament so far, taking out group D, while the Cook Islands are sitting at 1-1 after their first two games. Anthony Gelling, Paul Ulberg and Kayal Iro provide the scoring power for the Cook Islands team, but a powerful Tongan attack could exploit their inconsistency.
Daniel Tupou’s hat trick in the win over Wales has him as a pivotal part of the Tongan team, while Tolu Koula’s intensity will also be a factor. Expect them to win this and become a force as the tournament heats up.
SUGGESTED BET:
Tonga -24.5 at $1.69
Samoa vs. France
October 31st
It’s been an up-and-down tournament so far for Samoa. Highly fancied before the World Cup got underway, they were obliterated by England. NRL stars Jarome Luai and Brian To’o have found their groove after a sluggish start and will relish taking on a France team that sits level with them on points but is well behind in ability. A tournament-opening win over Greece followed a big reality check for the French team in a 24-point loss to England. Arthur Romano and Arthur Mourgue held their own, but no one could match the English team when they got the run on the outside. Samoa should clinch this one and advance to the quarter-finals.
SUGGESTED BET:
Samoa -27.5 at $1.87
Fiji vs. Scotland
October 30th
In a tournament of minnows and countries who, let’s be honest, are making up the numbers, Scotland has been the most disappointing country at the World Cup.
An 84-0 loss to Australia is about as heavy as it gets, but it will be interesting to see if this proud nation can bounce back. On their day, Lachlan Walmsley and Ryan Brierley can match it at the international level, but they have had little support from teammates.
Fiji has also suffered a tough loss at the hands of Australia but has shown more fight and promise than the Bravehearts this tournament. Api Koroisau is relishing his role at five-eighth, while Penioni Tagituimua is vital to gaining vital yards for a Fijian team that has a quarter-final berth within its grasp. There could be some value in an upset here, with Scotland playing with absolutely nothing to lose and Fiji carrying a weight of expectation.
