Italy vs Namibia
Italy and Namibia face off in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne. The Azzurri will be looking to open their account with a win against the Namibians who had to come through a gruelling qualifying process. Italy have shown a marked improvement in recent seasons and will look to put Namibia to the sword.
The team from Africa will have to be at their very best if they are to avoid a huge defeat. Italy will find it very difficult to qualify from this group as France and the All Blacks are the favourites. They will still need to win this match and hope for a miracle when they face the favorites.
TIP: Italy will want to keep the same winning combination from the team that beat Japan last time out. Their forwards pack was excellent in that match and they will look to overpower Namibia which will allow their backs to express themselves. The Namibians have recruited former Wallaby Richard Hardwick into the team and have seven players that were part of the last World Cup in Japan. The bookies have Italy as favorites and I’m also tipping them for the win. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Betway 1.01, Gbets 1.01 and Hollywoodbets 1.01
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Italy vs Namibia
- These teams have only met once before with Italy winning 47-22.
Latest results for both teams
Italy beat Japan 42-21 in their last match while Namibia beat Chile 28-26 last time out.
PREDICTION
Italians teams of old relied heavily on their forwards but in the last couple of years all that has changed as they have world class wingers in Ange Capuozzo and Monty Ioane. The latter is fresh from a hat trick in the last match against Japan. Namibia will need to find a way to slow the ball of the opposition otherwise the Italian backs will have a field day. The underdogs certainly have enough experience in their side with Captain Johan Deysel who is a workhorse in the centre position. They will be looking to flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel to use his siege gun boot to win them territory. I am predicting an Italian win by 24 points
Probable Starting XVs
Italy
15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Namibia
15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Gerswin Mouton, 13 Johan Deysel (c), 12 Danco Burger, 11 JC Greyling, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Damian Stevens, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Johan Retief, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 4 Adriaan Ludick, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld, 1 Desiderius Sethie
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Italy victory are as follows:
Betway 1.01
Gbets 1.01
Hollywoodbets 1.01
Odds comparison on the Namibia handicap:
The complete odds on the Namibia handicap:
Betway 1.90 (+32.5)
Gbets 1.87 (+32.5)
Hollywoodbets 1.89 (+32.5)
Predictions and Odds in details
There is no money to be made on the Italy outright therefore we suggest backing the away team on the handicap. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Betway 1.90 (+32.5), Gbets 1.87 (+32.5) and Hollywoodbets 1.89 (+32.5)
Other tips for the weekend (Predicted winners are in BOLD text)
Waikato vs Wellington
France vs NZ
Ireland vs Romania
Australia vs Georgia
England vs Argentina
South Africa vs Scotland
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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.
