South Africa vs Georgia
It’s amazing to think that this is the Springboks first test match since winning the World Cup in 2019. The obvious thought is that after 19 months of not playing together the Springboks will be ring rusty. This is true but all these players have been playing at the highest level for their clubs. The Georgians on the other hand will be match ready as they have been playing international rugby albeit against much weaker opposition. The Springboks will want to make a statement of intent and nothing but a resounding victory will do that. They will have WC winning flyhalf Handre Pollard back in the team after his injury ravaged season and his partnership with Cobus Reinach will be the key to the Springboks attacking game. The Georgians game plan is very simple, try and dominate the opposition with their scrums and driving maul. They simply do not have much of an attack and that tactic of using their big forwards to win them games will never work against the Boks. The Springboks have dynamic wingers in Rosko Specman and Aphelele Fassi who will look to run the big Georgian team ragged. The midfield combination for the Springboks are big and strong ball carriers so the back three of the Springboks can expect to get lots of good attacking ball. The Georgians may not be the best attackers but with most of their team being based in France we can expect them to slow the game down. Georgia’s number nine Vasil Lobzhanidze is the man that can spark the team and has loads of international experience. He is so used of being behind a scrum that is always moving forward but will be interesting to see how he handles this match as the Boks will have the upper hand at scrum time.
TIP: The Springboks will look to keeping the ball in hand and although this is not the Bok way, this tactic will work against the heavier Georgian team. The Boks are gifted for speed in the backline with the wings and Willie Le Roux always dangerous. The Springboks are superior in all aspects therefore you can expect the Georgia team to slow the game down. The Boks biggest concern will be complacency and they will need to come out firing and break the Georgians down early on. The Springboks have arguably their stronger front row on the bench and this could spell danger for the visitors in the last 20 minutes. The best odds on the Springbok victory are at Worldsportsbetting 1.01, Playabets 1.01 and Sunbet 1.01
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
South Africa vs Georgia
- There has only been one previous match between these teams which was one by the Springboks 46-19
- This is the first match between the teams in South Africa..
Latest results for both teams
The Springboks won their last match against England 32-12 and Georgia beat the Netherlands 48-15.
PREDICTION
This is the classic David vs Goliath contest as the 12th ranked Georgia face the World Champion Springboks. The Boks have a few star players missing but their replacements are world class. The Boks will like to play an expansive games but their real strength lies in the forwards. Players like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth are world class in their positions and will be roaring to go in their first match as official World Champions. Kwagga Smith is another player with a lot to prove as he is filling the big boots of Duane Vermeulen. The Georgians will do very well do slow the game down so that the score does not turn into a cricket score. There will be a relentless assault on the Georgian tryline therefore I predict a land slide victory for the home side by more than 40 points.
- Probable Starting XVs
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Georgia
15 David Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Demur Tapladze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 5 Kote Mikautadze, 4 David Gigauri, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Jaba Bregvadze 1 Guram Gogichashvili
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Springboks victory are as follows:
Worldsportsbetting 1.01
Playabets 1.01
Sunbet 1.01
Odds comparison on the Springbok handicap victory:
The complete odds on the Springbok handicap victory:
Worldsportsbetting (-37.5) 1.90
Sunbet (-38.5) 1.91
Playabets (-36.5) 1.83
Predictions and Odds in details
The Springboks have selected an extremely strong bench for this match and I expect the second half to see the Springboks demolish the Georgians. Players like debutant Jasper Wiese will look to continue with the form he showed for Leicester Tigers. The Bok wingers although not first choice are both electric runners and love scoring tries. We can expect the Georgian defence to be kept busy for the full 80 minutes. Frans Steyn will want to show that he deserves to be the starting 12 in the Tests against the British and Irish Lions. He will need to have a storming game to displace Damian De Allende. Georgia will need to find a way to stop the Boks driving maul without giving away penalties. Not many teams have achieved this. There isn’t any money for punters on the Boks outright victory therefore I suggest the Springboks on the handicap victory. The best odds on this bet are as follows. Worldsportsbetting (-37.5) 1.90, Sunbet (-38.5) 1.91 and Playabets (-36.5) 1.83
Sports crazy fan that follows all major sport but the game with the oval ball is my real passion. Was an age level rugby coach and a huge supporter of the Springboks and diehard Liverpool man. I’m an experienced punter and sports writer whose predictions/tips are sure to stir up the emotions. I love the occasional wager on the underdog.
