Rugby World Cup final: All Blacks better all-round than Aussies
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | October 29, 2015
New Zealand v Australia
- 2015 Rugby World Cup final
- Saturday, October 31st
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
- Twickenham Stadium, London
- Live on ITV
Awesome All Blacks in pole position to retain
Australia lead New Zealand 2-1 on Rugby World Cup meetings, but the overall head-to-head record reads 105-42 in the All Black’s favour with seven draws.
Coral side with the bigger picture, making the Kiwis odds-on 2/5 favourites to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup final in 80 minutes and 4/11 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup at Twickenham.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, who beat holders New Zealand during the Southern Hemisphere Championship this summer, are 12/5 match outsiders in normal time and 9/4 to get their hands on the trophy.
New Zealand’s back row brilliance
Punters can enhance the All Blacks’ status as firm match favourites to 21/20 if you take them to score first and earn victory. They carry threats galore, including the leading tryscorer at this Rugby World Cup; Julian Savea, who is a 2/1 chance to cross again anytime.
A fearsome hat-trick in the bulldozing of France during the quarter-final rout was hugely impressive from Savea and took his tournament tally to eight.
It’s the beast at centre, in Ma’a Nonu who loves to score tries against the Aussies, though. He has 10 career crossings in 23 previous Test, so nifty Nonu is well worth backing in a 9/2 wincast.
Kiwi winger Nehe Milner-Skudder, a 7/1 shot for two tries or more here, is the other obvious threat, while New Zealand kicker Dan Carter will hope to end his international career on a high and scoop the man of the match award at 3/1. Richie McCaw is also a familiar face calling time on Tests.
Aussie attack must be dealt with
As impressive as the All Blacks are, they have to contain Australia’s semi-final hat-trick hero Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has nine career tries against this opposition. While a repeat of his heroics is a fanciful 80/1, anytime odds of 3/1 are well worth taking.
Wallabies full back Israel Folau has again been passed fit, and is nimble enough to nip in behind New Zealand at his best. Three tries in eight caps against them proves he’s a threat and a fantastic price of 4/1 says he’ll cross the whitewash anytime.
Turnover of possession, thanks to the unglamorous work of number eight David Pocock has seen him steal the ball back 14 times for the Aussies and he is worth a punt at 8/1 as an alternative man of the match candidate.
Related
Check out our Rugby World Cup archives, and feature on Australia ahead of this Rugby World Cup final.
Coral’s top tip: Everyone expects New Zealand to win, and there’s little doubting them, so that 9/2 wincast involving Nanu nipping in for a try is well worth taking.
