Australia vs South Africa
The Springboks will want to bounce back from their defeat last week as another defeat will end their challenge for the Rugby Championship. They had their worst performance in two years and Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am in particular were awful. The Aussies will be high on confidence as they upset the odds and thanks to their mercurial number 10 Quade Cooper. He was four years out of international rugby but controlled the game superbly and showed nerves of steel to kick the winning penalty after the hooter. The Springboks so famed for their scrum were made to look ordinary by the Aussie front row. I know they will be desperate to assert their forward dominance at the scrum and of course with the driving mauls. They scored all three tries through the driving maul. No doubt the Aussies would have spent the week working on their maul defence. The biggest disappointment for the Springboks was the goal kicking pf Pollard and ultimately this was the reason that they lost the match
TIP: The men that were most dangerous for the Aussies were Samu Kerevi and Cooper and ironically they both haven’t played international rugby in years. The return of Duane Vermeulen for the Springboks was hailed as a major boost but unfortunately he showed signs of rustiness after a long injury lay off. He will want to be at his beastly best and this will give SA that front foot ball they so desperately need. It will be interesting to note if the Boks continue with the kick at every opportunity tactic. I for one think this is not the way to play especially when you got devastating runners like Damian de Allende and Makazole Mapimpi in your back line. The scrum is another area that needs immediate improvement from the Boks as they count on winning penalties from their powerful scrum. The bookies have the Springboks as favourites and I’m also tipping them for the victory. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Worldsportsbetting 1.33, Playabets 1.30 and Sunbet 1.30
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
Australia vs South Africa
- In the last five matches between the sides there have been two wins apiece and a draw.
- There has been just one away win in the last 13 meetings between these teams.
- The last time South Africa won in Australia was in 2013.
Latest results for both teams
Australia beat South Africa 28-26 in their last match.
PREDICTION
The Springboks will need to show more attacking urgency and stop kicking away all their possession. Australia love to counter attack and with runners like Tom Banks and Kerevi they are very dangerous. The Aussies know that to stand a chance of victory they will need another Herculean effort from their inspirational skipper Michael Hooper. This guy never stops working and won a couple of crucial turnovers in the match. Bok wingers Mapimpi and Sbu Nkosi need to see more of the ball as they are proven try scorers. The midfield battle will again take centre stage as Am and De Allende was outplayed by Kerevi and Len Ikitau. Am in particular had a shocker highlighted by not grounding the ball when he was over the tryline. The Boks almost never have two poor weekends in a row so I expect them to come out firing and over power the Aussies. I predict a Boks win by more than 10 points.
- Probable Starting XVs
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Trevor Nyakane
Australia
15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Springboks victory are as follows:
Worldsportsbetting 1.33
Playabets 1.30
Sunbet 1.30
Odds comparison on the Springbok handicap victory :
The complete odds on the Springbok handicap victory:
Worldsportsbetting (-8.5) 1.90
Sunbet (-7.5) 1.85
Playabets (-7.5) 1.82
Predictions and Odds in details
The Aussies showed great resolve to beat the Boks last weekend especially after three thumping losses to the All Blacks. The Boks have themselves to blame for the defeat as it was their ill-discipline that allowed Cooper to kick seven penalties. Two players that much more will expected from are De Klerk and Vermeulen as they return from injury showed their lack of match practice. If they are back to their best then the Boks will win this match. Both teams have made changes to their front row with Trevor Nyakane coming in for the Boks and Taniela Tupou in for the Aussies. Both are powerful scrummagers and excellent with ball in hand so it will be a boost to their respective teams. The loss last week will provide that extra motivation to the Boks and I expect them to dominate the Aussies. They also have the stronger bench and will pull away in the last quarter. The bookies offer poor returns on the outright Springbok win therefore the value bet is the Boks on the handicap. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Worldsportsbetting (-8.5) 1.90, Sunbet (-7.5) 1.85 and Playabets (-7.5) 1.82
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.
