South Africa v Ireland Betting Tips:
Ireland Half Time/Full Time
James Lowe Anytime Tryscorer
Rugby World Cup – Pool B
8pm: South Africa v Ireland
Stade de France, Paris
ITV1, RTÉ2
Well, we’ve managed to make it. No, not past the quarterfinals, just to our World No.1 vs World No.2 pool-deciding clash with South Africa (Scotland be damned).
Tale of the tape time then. Munster’s very own Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber vs Owen Farrell’s Dad, Jonathan Sexton Andy Farrell & puppet master Paul O’Connell. The big bad Boks have gone full-on Jimmy Neutron with their selection and opted to go with a 7/1 split of forwards and backs on the bench.
They’ve done this all the while managing to have only one specialist hooker after losing the world’s best – Malcolm Marx – leaving Bongi Mbonambi as the lone option (Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden are the other options at scrum and lineout). Incredibly big brain stuff from Rassie and Jacques.
So, as expected Ireland have gone with the usual 5/3 split on the bench. Perhaps the only slight surprise is Ryan Baird in over Joe McCarthy, although I believe the former warrants his selection, they were both fighting for the spot Jack Conan would have filled if healthy.
Jack Crowley takes over as the clear No.2 option to Sexton and claims a spot on the bench with Robbie Henshaw the final cover for the backs. No surprise there as Bundee Aki might be the best inside centre in the game at this exact moment.
With all that out of the way, let’s get to the best bets for the game.
Ireland Half Time/Full Time
For those of you unfamiliar, this means Ireland to have the lead at the end of the first 40 minutes and then to continue and win the game. Not to be confused with ‘To Win Both Halves’ which is a different market altogether. Both Ireland and Leinster are in the habit of bursting out the gates with brilliant set plays and blistering pace. I fancy this to have Ireland in position come half time and not to relinquish it come crunch time.
Why would it be different to what Leinster have done in the past? Well in large part, one Peter O’Mahony. There’s not a more dogged rugby player on the planet and his battle this weekend against Siya Kolisi will be a sight to behold. POM is a man that drives effort standards in the biggest games and alongside the precision of Sexton and quality off the bench – I’m growing more confident by the hour around Ireland’s chances.
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James Lowe Anytime Tryscorer
This one won’t come as some huge shock but there’s some simple thinking behind it. Let me explain. Lowe has played against Kolbe many times in recent years and for the most part, he’s come off better for it. The size difference between himself and the two South African wingers (Kurt-Lee Arendse is Kolbe 2.0) is huge and as such, very simply, I’m backing him to bullock his way over the line, using Arendse as some form of speedbump as he does so.
So there you are, two picks for a game which could very possibly end up repeating in the Rugby World Cup Final on October 28th. France having potentially lost Antoine Dupont to a fractured cheekbone amongst their other issues means that whilst this game is of huge significance, we are now in a much better spot should be fail to win this weekend. Without Dupont, I would fancy Ireland over both France and New Zealand in the quarters – but let’s win this game first!
Rugby World Cup Betting Tips
Ireland Half Time/Full Time
James Lowe Anytime Tryscorer
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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