The big weekend preview – tips and picks for RWC games
September 21, 2023
Another bumper Rugby World Cup weekend awaits us, with the South Africa vs. Ireland clash arguably the biggest.
There will also be a crunch game on Sunday when Wales and Australia meet in a battle of two of the worst-run unions in the sport.
The Pacific island teams also have another pair of chances to cause big upsets at the Rugby World Cup this weekend.
Here, we make our picks for the weekend’s matches and throw in a few suggested bets to help you assemble a winning accumulator.
France vs Namibia
Namibia haven’t shown anything to suggest that they could challenge this French side.
It would take a complete implosion on behalf of the hosts for anything other than a drubbing for the Southern Africans to go down.
The over at 88.5 points in the match looks an attractive offer, as we could well see France run away with this.
You can also back Damien Penaud to score the first try in the match as France go back to full strength for this one.
Argentina vs Samoa
Argentina need to keep the pressure on England but will face a big physical battle when they face Samoa.
The Pumas will be ready to front up in the setpieces but will be out to avoid one-on-one mismatches.
Samoa will likely start strong and could be good value for their price to win the first half.
Argentina to win by 1-12 points inclusive isn’t going to blow the doors off but could make for a reasonably safe bet unless the Pumas really hit their straps.
Georgia vs Portugal
Georgia won’t be having any of the notion that Portugal could muscle in on their place as the rising force in European rugby.
Portugal made a decent start against Wales, but the Lelos will not give an inch and will be prepared to win ugly.
Georgia are short on the unqualified win at the moment and will stay that way.
The Georgians are just about nailed on to win, and picking the margin will be vital to getting anything out of this fixture.
England vs Chile
England have threatened experimentation for their match against Chile, but that doesn’t change their status as overwhelming favourites.
Chile have shown a willingness to be adventurous and have been a delight to watch in the Rugby World Cup so far.
However, England’s setpiece mastery should just be far too much for Chile to handle.
England should be good for a win by 40-50 points in this match.
South Africa vs Ireland
The match the whole world will be watching sees the top two sides according to the World Rankings clash.
Ireland hold the wood over the Springboks in recent clashes and have been suprise benefactors of the establishment of the United Rugby Championship as their provinces finally have a competition to sharpen Test prospects.
The Springboks will be out to play the territorial game and physically overwhelm Ireland, having nailed their colours to the mast with a 7-1 bench split.
Ireland have agruably the most balanced and varied attack in all of rugby right now though and should edge this one by between 5-15 points.
Scotland vs Tonga
Scotland cannot afford to lose a step after their disappointing opening against the Springboks and face a tough Tonga outfit.
That said, If Scotland produce the level of rugby we have been accustomed to seeing from them recently they will run away with this.
Scotland were one pass away from breaching the Springbok defence decisively in their opening match on four occassions but each time either took the wrong option, spilled the ball or had it turned over.
The Scots should be able to win this one by at least 20 points.
Wales vs Australia
Wales hold a slight edge over Australia but these are unions trying to find their place in the modern game and suffering from poor decisions made in the boardroom over a longer term.
It isn’t often that Wales face a side that has been through more turmoil than themselves barely a year on from a major pay row and with rugby in the country facing an uncertain future.
Wales can just about clinch top spot in their group with a win given that they beat Fiji with a bonus point.
If Australia show the same tactical naivety they did against Fiji when facing a team coached by Warren Gatland, they will be ripped apart.
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The big weekend preview – tips and picks for RWC games
Another bumper Rugby World Cup weekend awaits us, with the South Africa vs. Ireland clash arguably the biggest.
There will also be a crunch game on Sunday when Wales and Australia meet in a battle of two of the worst-run unions in the sport.
The Pacific island teams also have another pair of chances to cause big upsets at the Rugby World Cup this weekend.
Here, we make our picks for the weekend’s matches and throw in a few suggested bets to help you assemble a winning accumulator.
France vs Namibia
Namibia haven’t shown anything to suggest that they could challenge this French side.
It would take a complete implosion on behalf of the hosts for anything other than a drubbing for the Southern Africans to go down.
The over at 88.5 points in the match looks an attractive offer, as we could well see France run away with this.
You can also back Damien Penaud to score the first try in the match as France go back to full strength for this one.
Argentina vs Samoa
Argentina need to keep the pressure on England but will face a big physical battle when they face Samoa.
The Pumas will be ready to front up in the setpieces but will be out to avoid one-on-one mismatches.
Samoa will likely start strong and could be good value for their price to win the first half.
Argentina to win by 1-12 points inclusive isn’t going to blow the doors off but could make for a reasonably safe bet unless the Pumas really hit their straps.
Georgia vs Portugal
Georgia won’t be having any of the notion that Portugal could muscle in on their place as the rising force in European rugby.
Portugal made a decent start against Wales, but the Lelos will not give an inch and will be prepared to win ugly.
Georgia are short on the unqualified win at the moment and will stay that way.
The Georgians are just about nailed on to win, and picking the margin will be vital to getting anything out of this fixture.
England vs Chile
England have threatened experimentation for their match against Chile, but that doesn’t change their status as overwhelming favourites.
Chile have shown a willingness to be adventurous and have been a delight to watch in the Rugby World Cup so far.
However, England’s setpiece mastery should just be far too much for Chile to handle.
England should be good for a win by 40-50 points in this match.
South Africa vs Ireland
The match the whole world will be watching sees the top two sides according to the World Rankings clash.
Ireland hold the wood over the Springboks in recent clashes and have been suprise benefactors of the establishment of the United Rugby Championship as their provinces finally have a competition to sharpen Test prospects.
The Springboks will be out to play the territorial game and physically overwhelm Ireland, having nailed their colours to the mast with a 7-1 bench split.
Ireland have agruably the most balanced and varied attack in all of rugby right now though and should edge this one by between 5-15 points.
Scotland vs Tonga
Scotland cannot afford to lose a step after their disappointing opening against the Springboks and face a tough Tonga outfit.
That said, If Scotland produce the level of rugby we have been accustomed to seeing from them recently they will run away with this.
Scotland were one pass away from breaching the Springbok defence decisively in their opening match on four occassions but each time either took the wrong option, spilled the ball or had it turned over.
The Scots should be able to win this one by at least 20 points.
Wales vs Australia
Wales hold a slight edge over Australia but these are unions trying to find their place in the modern game and suffering from poor decisions made in the boardroom over a longer term.
It isn’t often that Wales face a side that has been through more turmoil than themselves barely a year on from a major pay row and with rugby in the country facing an uncertain future.
Wales can just about clinch top spot in their group with a win given that they beat Fiji with a bonus point.
If Australia show the same tactical naivety they did against Fiji when facing a team coached by Warren Gatland, they will be ripped apart.