Rugby World Cup: Wallabies, Scots and Irish all in action on Sunday
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Behind firm tournament favourites New Zealand and Rugby World Cup hosts England in Coral’s outright betting come Australia (13/2) and Ireland (15/2). Punters will have the chance to see both the Wallabies and Joe Schmidt’s side in action on Sunday, alongside improving Scotland.
The Aussies encounter Uruguay with Pool A, Vern Cotter’s crew clash with the USA in Pool B and the Irish prepare to play Romania. Each of the established rugby nations are respective heavy odds-on favourites to follow up wins in their opening games, so what other bets appeal?
Australia v Uruguay
While the Wallabies have never faced this South American opposition before, they are expected to lay down a marker after enduring a spirited first-half resistance from Fiji before running out 28-13 winners at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Villa Park plays host to the first-ever international between the Aussies and Teros, and the minnows must try to contain number eight David Pocock, who crossed for a brace in the battle with Fiji. Bernard Foley’s kicking was also key in that opening victory, so Uruguayan discipline needs to be spot on.
Santiago Gibernau looks their main threat from the wing, while scrum half Agustin Ormaechea is one to watch too.
Scotland v USA
Vern Cotter has rang the changes after his Scottish side smashed giant-killing Japan 45-10 in midweek, with just Stuart Hogg, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell and Grant Gilchrist retaining their places in the XV. John Hardie’s loss from the front row with a head knock is a blow, however.
Such a swift turnaround from that Wednesday win is behind those changes, but the majority of the 11 coming in played some part at Kingsholm. Scotland have four wins out of four against the USA, so are 7/2 to repeat their 31-40 points margin of victory from the Japan game here.
Bennett crossed twice in the second half as a glut of Scottish tries took them past the Brave Blossoms to a bonus point win, and the outside centre is 4/1 to repeat his brace or better against the USA.
Russell, meanwhile, rounded off the scoring, and is 18/1 to go over last once more.
Ireland v Romania
In like fashion to Scotland, Schmidt makes a dozen alterations after a victorious start to the Irish’s tilt at the tournament that saw them cross seven times against Canada.
Experience is the key word for Ireland, as they have named the oldest average age XV in the Rugby World Cup history here. Schmidt is clearly keen to avoid complacency.
Robbie Henshaw won’t be risked at centre, but Simon Zebo (7/1 to score the first try), Tommy Bowe (odds-on at 2/7 in the anytime market) and Darren Cave come into the back row.
Ian Madigan is at fly half, and loose head prop Cian Healy starts after recovering from a neck problem alongside Nathan White at tight head and Richardt Strauss. Irish captain Paul O’Connell gets a rest among the replacement with Jamie Heaslip deputising. Devin Toner and Donnacha Ryan come in to the second row.
Ireland look great value for a handsome margin of victory, and again the 31-40 points bracket appeals at 3/1 as Romania will offer sterner opposition.
Coral’s top tip: Scotland’s Finn Russell got the last try against Japan, so is brilliant value at 18/1 to round off the scoring against the USA too
