All of the top 10 ranked teams in world rugby are in action this weekend and the southern hemisphere giants will be looking to make amends after a torrid tour north in November.
New Zealand play Ireland, Australia face England, South Africa are up against Wales and Argentina are preparing to do battle in three-Test series, starting this weekend.
The All Blacks go into their match against Ireland on Saturday staring at the prospect of a hat-trick of defeats for the first time since 1998, having lost to Ireland in Dublin and France in Paris at the back end of their trip.
South Africa fared better in November with wins against Wales and Scotland but lost out, in the one that really mattered, to England, albeit only by a point. Wales, at home, has never been a problem before – they have won all 10 Tests against Wales in home soil – and is unlikely to be so again.
Australia’s new era under Dave Rennie has yet to properly ignite and consecutive losses to Wales, England and Scotland in an unprecedented European tour whitewash suggest they have plenty of work to do to come out on top against England.
Asides from those heavyweight clashes, Michael Cheika takes charge of Argentina for the first time when Los Pumas take on Scotland in the first of three Tests this weekend.
At the same time, the start of the Pacific Nations Cup and Rugby Africa Cup and a host of other internationals offer up some excellent rugby betting opportunities.
Romania v Italy (Friday)
Oaks to stand tall
The first opportunity to make some money, however, comes in Bucharest where Romania face Italy for the first time in 18 years.
Romania’s fortunes have been on the up in recent times under Andy Robinson and they’ll be looking to cap a good week with a good performance against the Azzurri.
The Oaks’ place at Rugby World Cup 2023 as Europe 2 was confirmed on Tuesday and what better way to celebrate than with a shock win against one of the Tier 1 nations.
To be fair, Romania’s record on home soil is very impressive – only two defeats in 17 Tests – and even though they are missing a few players, their line-up doesn’t look as experimental as that of Italy’s and an 11-point handicap in their favour should be enough.
Tip: Romania +11 (10/11)
Japan v France (Saturday)
France to continue momentum
When France took England to extra-time in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup in December 2020 with what was effectively a second/third team, it showed the remarkable depth of talent coming through on the other side of the channel.
It was a portent of things to come for the rest of the rugby world and after a near-miss in 2021, they laid claim to their first Six Nations title in 12 years in 2022, playing a style of rugby that has endeared them to everyone.
The same can be said of Japan and their high-tempo brand of rugby but the Brave Blossoms reserves are not at the same level as those from Les Bleus, and we feel Fabian Galthie’s men will comfortably extend their winning run to nine matches, which is just one short of their all-time record.
18 points is a lot for them to give up on the handicap so our preference would be to look at the total match points market.
Tip: Total match points OVER 53.5 (10/11)
New Zealand v Ireland (Saturday)
Ireland have never won against the All Blacks in New Zealand and were beaten by a record score of 60-0 on their last visit nearly a decade ago which shows the enormity of the task facing them.
However, this Ireland team is more settled than the All Blacks – even with injury withdrawals – and three of the last five meetings, albeit in Dublin and on neutral ground in Chicago – have gone their way.
During the Six Nations, when they finished second, Ireland’s set-piece solidity was matched by the slickness of their back play and strong discipline and Andy Farrell’s team have a golden opportunity to lay their New zealand bogey to rest.
Tip: Ireland +10 (Evns)
Australia v England (Saturday)
When Eddie Jones picked up the pieces of England’s disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign and led them to a Grand Slam, he arived in his native Australia in the summer of 2016 heralded as a messiah.
Jones’ popularity has ebbed and flowed since then but at the moment it is on a downward spiral following a hugely disappointing Six Nations.
However, he loves nothing more than having his back against the wall and you can expect England to go at this tour all guns blazing.
The impotency they showed in attack during the Spring should be cured by an injection of fresh, young talent, and with the way Australia like to play the game, there could be a repeat of the high-scoring matches we saw on that tour in 2016.
Result-wise, this is a tough one to work out – the bookies have England at +2 – so we’re more inclined to look elsewhere for value.
If England are struggling for rhythm, it probably won’t be too long before Jack van Poortlviet and Henry Arundell are thrown into the fray and they could cause mayhem.
Tip: England to win second half (Evns)
South Africa v Wales (Saturday)
Wales field a quality backline oozing with class and caps but it is hard to see their tight-five giving them anything like enough ball in time and space to trouble what looks like a very strong Springbok team, one that is set to play in front of a home crowd for the first time since they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time in November 2019.
The Springboks will look to steamroller Wales and sap what little confidence they have after a fifth-place finish in the Six Nations. Scrum penalty after scrum penalty being kicked to the corner looks to be on the script from the first whistle so hooker Bongi Mbonambi is not a bad bet to be first to cross the line.
Whether they have enough about them to convert that pressure into a hatful of points over 80 minutes is disputable, however, as only twice in their last nine Tests have they passed the 30-point mark, plus games between these two have traditionally been tight.
For that reason it is probably prudent not to back them at -19 and look elsewhere for rich pickings.
Tips: Bongi Mbonambi 1st try-scorer (9/1); South Africa to win both halves (4/9); UNDER 55.5 match points (5/6); Wales LESS than 17.5 points (Evns)
Argentina v Scotland (Saturday)
Los Pumas have only one victory in their last eight Tests against Scotland and only two in their last 12 matches against all opposition but the tourists go into the match as slight underdogs, due mainly to the personnel they have left behind.
With Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg rested and Adam Hastings injured, the backline is missing a lot of experience and a lot will rest on the shoulders of Duhan van der Merwe and brilliant No.8 Matt Fagerson if Scotland are going to make an impact.
In truth, Argentina are better team than recent results suggest and with this being Michael Cheika’s first game in charge and the first game at home in front of a crowd since 2019, emotions will be running high in Jujuy.
In all but one of those past eight encounters the winning margin has been 10 points or less and this promises to be another close game.
Tip: Los Pumas by 6-10 points (5/1)
