Five tips for Home Nations’ final Summer Tour matches
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | June 24, 2016
England have already won their three-Test Summer Tour of Australia with one match to spare, while Wales’ trip to New Zealand has ended in series defeat.
There’s all to play for between South Africa and Ireland, however, and money to be made regardless of the state of play in these rugby union international encounters in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bearing all this in mind, here are five tips from the Home Nations’ final fixtures…
Barrett barrage for All Blacks anytime
Although the Kiwis’ clearest threat is Julian Savea, his anytime odds of 1/4 aren’t half as attractive as the 12/5 for fly half Barrett to bag another try against Wales.
Whether coming off the replacements’ bench or if he is named in the starting XV, Barrett makes an impact for New Zealand, and punters should expect things to be no different in this regard here.
England penalty the first scoring play
Discipline is not really a word you can use to describe Australia during their time as hosts of England on Tour and, as a result, the 8/5 for the first scoring play to be a penalty for the visitors is attractive.
David Pocock’s work at the breakdown has been sorely missed by the Wallabies since he fractured an eye-socket, and Sean McMahon looked shaky when playing at number eight for the first time in the second Test. Michael Cheika has also changed the locks for this final fixture.
If Red Rose fly half Owen Farrell gets a sniff of three points, he’s going to take it and alternatively features in a 7/4 special to put more than 22 points on the board.
Kuridrani to crash over
Powerful Aussies centre Tevita Kuridrani is a dangerous operator in midfield. With Cheika tweaking things to allow him to reprise his partnership with fit-again Matt Toouma, that should free him up to be threatening to England again.
Kuridrani is terrific tryscoring value at 3/1 anytime, having crossed in the second half of the first Test. Flying full back Israel Folau apart, he is the Wallabies’ biggest threat from the backs with three in his last five caps.
Du Toit try scoring antics to continue
Springboks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit has scored in both summer outings against Ireland so far. While this may be above and beyond the call of duty for a second rower, it’s a miracle to find him as long as 12/1 to cross for another try anytime.
With this series still in the balance, South Africa will want threats to come from all areas of the field, and forward Du Toit, who has also played flanker in Super Rugby, is certainly that.
Ireland better out of the blocks
Bearing in mind that Joe Schmidt has seen his Irish side score the first try in both previous outings, odds of 13/10 for the tourists to repeat are truly terrific.
CJ Stander is back from suspension and his back row influence was marked by his enforced absence last time out. As Ireland have spread their try threat throughout the team, they should be first over again.
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