Rugby Championship Betting Tips - Week 3

Rugby Championship Betting Tips  - Week 3

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The Rugby Championship returns after a fallow week, with both fixtures taking place on Saturday.

The standout is undoubtedly the match in Johannesburg, where South Africa host New Zealand at 16:00 BST.

Then at 23:00 BST, winless Australia will hope the travel hasn't taken too much out of them when they face Argentina in La Plata.

  • SPRINGBOKS TO WIN BY 6-10 POINTS VS ALL BLACKS
  • ARGENTINA -9 VS AUSTRALIA


Springboks vs All Blacks

Rugby fans are set for a treat with last year's World Cup finalists set for a double-header over the next fortnight.

South Africa and New Zealand meet again in Cape Town next Saturday and playing at sea level might suit the All Blacks better than the altitude they will experience at Ellis Park.

That was the case for Ireland, who lost July's opening Test on the Highveld in Pretoria before getting revenge down on the coast in Durban.

A repeat outcome might give new Kiwi coach Scott Robertson more kudos, with his team unlikely to lose their closing back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia and boy, does he need it. 

Robertson's unique playing style didn't always endear him to the national selectors and his willingness to offer his opinions as a coach has often seen him at odds with the media.

Success with the Crusaders protected him but his decisions have been subject to greater scrutiny as New Zealand boss and he has come under further fire following the axing of his former teammate and great friend Leon MacDonald as attack coach since August's 42-10 win over Argentina.

That followed a shock 38-30 opening defeat to the Pumas and came on the back of criticism after only sneaking past England (twice) before his youngsters smashed past Fiji in San Diego.

'Razor' is likely to return to the old guard against a brilliant Bok team, coached by the equally enigmatic Rassie Erasmus, who has shuffled his pack (almost literally) by moving flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit into the second row.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been retained at fly-half after shining in the 33-7 and 30-12 wins over the Wallabies, but it might be his now-understudy Handre Pollard who wins the game.

The All Blacks always raise their levels against the Springboks, almost beating them in last year's World Cup final despite going down to 14 men.  

They won 35-23 on their last visit to Ellis Park in 2022 - that looks a stretch and Pollard's nous should see South Africa home with a bit to spare.

SPRINGBOKS TO WIN BY 6-10 POINTS



Springboks vs All Blacks Teams

Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.

Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a.


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Argentina vs Australia

Joe Schmidt is another Kiwi coach with work to do. He inherited a mess of an Australian side that crashed out in the pool stages of last year's World Cup but made a positive start by beating Wales twice and then Georgia.

However, they were brought back down to earth in those chastening Rugby Championship defeats to South Africa and Argentina are unlikely to offer too much sympathy.

A tied series against France was a frustrating way to start Felipe Contempomi's reign but they deservedly beat the Kiwis in Wellington before a lack of depth was arguably exposed when injuries forced them to make changes for the follow-up match in Auckland.

They should have a few bodies back for this game in La Plata, and even if they do not, they still have the power to bulldoze the Wallabies in the scrum and around the ruck.

With the British & Irish Lions visiting next summer and a home World Cup in 2027 to build for, performances rather than results might be Schmidt's priority for the time being and Saturday's outing at the Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium might show him which players he can rely on to front up.

ARGENTINA -9



Argentina vs Australia Teams

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo

Bench: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Joaquin Oviedo, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Tomas Albornoz

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.

Bench: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.


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