Scotland coach Andy Robinson is clearly taking no chances for this opening Pool B match against Romania in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Robinson has made eight changes from the side that defeated Italy in the last of the Scots World Cup warm up matches last month and it looks like a side that is close to being full strength. Little wonder therefore why Bet365 Bookmakers have made Scotland the 1/200 odds on favourites to win this match and why Romania only have odds of 28/1 to do the same.
One player retained from the Italy match is captain and lock, Alistair Kellock, who has so far shown that he is an inspirational leader on the pitch as well as being a great exponent of second row play. Also in the starting line up is Chris Paterson at full back who will be playing in his fourth World Cup and winning his 106th cap, while hooker, Ross Ford will be winning his 50th. Robinson has decided to run with Mike Blair and Ruaridh Jackson at half back, which means no place in the starting line-up for regular fly half Dan Parks or for Chris Cusiter. Sean Lamont has been included at centre where he played with such distinction in the Six Nations earlier this year; he will be joined in the centre by the powerful running Joe Ansbro, while the wing berths will be occupied by Simon Danielli and Max Evans. It is a very attacking set of backs and with Paterson in the team to score the goals, it would be no surprise to see Scotland get amongst the points in very quick time.
By making it through to the World Cup, Romania to the surprise of many will be joining an elite group of teams which have played in every World Cup since the inaugural event in 1987. They have never won through to the knock out stages, but with the exception of 1995 they have won at least one match every time.
Their record over the years against Scotland is not a great one, winning twice in twelve games played, the last of those coming in a World Cup warm up match in 1991 which the Romanian’s won by 18-12. The last ‘head to head’ came at the 2007 World Cup, which the Scots, comfortably won by 42-0, after scoring six converted tries, with Paterson scoring the first of those after just two minutes of play and maintaining a perfect six from six kicking ratio. With that in mind and Scotland almost certainly wanting to ‘get out of the blocks’ fast in this match, the 13/8 odds on offer from bet365 for Scotland to score a try as the First Scoring Play looks a more than reasonable bet. Those of you however who like to back the odd shock or two can get 14/1 odds about Romania scoring the first try of the match
The odds clearly tell us that Scotland will win this match, there is absolutely no doubt that they will. It is more a question of by how many which is why taking the safer and reasonable odds in the handicap will reap much greater reward, particularly in matches with a one-sided edge to them. Scotland for instance looks a great bet at Even Money to win the match at -35 but as an alternative they can be backed to win the match by a similar margin to the last head to head between the two nations. A win for Scotland of between 41-45 points in the Winning Margin market for example can be backed with odds of 13/2 also with Bet365.com.
Robinson is fully aware that Pool B is not an easy one to qualify from, particularly as their oldest rivals, England are the odds on favourites to win the Pool and Argentina in some markets are favoured above the Scots. It is therefore essential that Scotland take full advantage of their opening two fixtures, this one against Romania and next week’s match against the pool B outsiders, Georgia. Two big wins for Scotland will build plenty of confidence before they come up against the ‘big guns’.
Teams
Scotland:
C Paterson (Edinburgh); M Evans (Castres), J Ansbro (London Irish), S Lamont (Scarlets), S Danielli (Ulster); R Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), G Cross (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), A Kellock (capt, Glasgow Warriors), K Brown (Saracens), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), R Vernon (Sale Sharks).
Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Dickinson (Sale Sharks), N Hines (Clermont Auvergne), R Rennie (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), D Parks (Cardiff Blues), R Lamont (Toulon).
Romania:
I Dumitras; S Ciuntu, C Gal, T Dimofte, M Lemnaru; M Dumbrava, L Sirbu; D Carpo, O Tonita, M Macovei, C Petre, V Ursache, P Ion, M Tincu (captain), M Lazar. Replacements: B Suman, S Florea, V Poparlan, S Burcea, F Surugiu, I Cazan, F Vlaicu.
Scotland v Romania Tips
Tip 1: Scotland to win at -35 @ Even Money on offer from Bet.365.com
Tip 2: Scotland to Score a Try in First Scoring Play @ 13/8 on offer from Bet365.com
Tip 3: Scotland to win by 41-45 points @ 13/2 on offer from Bet365.com
Match Odds
1/200 Scotland
66/1 Draw
28/1 Romania
Winning Margin Odds
5/1 Scotland by 31-35 points
11/2 Scotland by 36-40 points
11/2 Scotland by 26-30 points
13/2 Scotland by 41-45 points
13/2 Scotland by 21-25
8/1 Scotland by 46-50 points
9/1 Scotland by 16-20 points
First Scoring Play Odds
13/8 Scotland Penalty
13/8 Scotland Try
11/4 Romania Penalty
14/1 Romania Try
20/1 Scotland Drop Goal
20/1 Romania Drop Goal
These odds have been provided by Bet365.com who will be running a very comprehensive service throughout the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Posted: Thursday, 8th September 2011
Author: Rodney Wise
Tags: rugby world cup, pool b, scotland, romania, bet365,
 | Rugby World Cup Betting Preview New Zealand Emphatic Favourites Australia Being Backed to Make the Final against All Blacks | 7th Sep |
| 201112 Aviva Premiership Betting Preview Leicester Favourites Defending Champions Saracens Dispute Betting with Tigers | 31st Aug |
| Australia V New Zealand Betting All Blacks Odds On To Seal Tri Nations With A Win Wallabies and All Blacks meet in Brisbane for Tri Nations decider | 26th Aug |
 | Ireland V England Odds Irish Favourites To Win RWC Warm Up In Dublin Johnsons Expects Big Improvement after Defeat by Wales | 25th Aug |
| Wales V England Betting Welsh Team Can Turn The Tables In Cardiff Teams meet for second time in a week as part of World Cup build up | 11th Aug |
Headline News
 | England V West Indies 2nd Test Odds Hosts Start Hot Favourites At Trent Bridge Tempting Odds For Ian Bell To Score A Century |
 | 2012 BMW PGA Championship Tips Ben Curtis A Good Bet To Score On English Soil Again McDowell And Fraser Also Fancied To Do Well |
 | Crowne Plaza Invitational Odds Zach Johnson Heads The Betting At Colonial David Toms Returns To Defend His Title In Texas |
 | Height Of Fashion Stakes Odds Goodwood Hosts Listed Oaks Trial Coquet And Gathering Head The Betting |
 | Second Eurovision Semi Final Odds Graham Norton Gets Prepares To Poke Fun |
BRAND NEW £250 free bets offer.
Open Account - Free £250 Bets With Paddypower
£25 free bet with William Hill.
Open Account - Claim £25 Free With William Hill
Claim a massive £50 free bet with teh leading bookmaker Ladbrokes
Open Account - Free £50 Bet at Ladbrokes
The UK based bookmaker Betfred is now offering a £50 free bet for new clients.
Open Account - Free £50 Bet With Betfred
New £50 free bet offer.
Open Account - Free £50 Bet With Coral
BetVictor is offering £100 in free bets to all new clients.
Open Account - Open Account - Free £100 Bets With BetVictor
Up to £200 worth of free bets with Bet365.
Open Account - Claim £200 Free With Bet365
Those looking for some online casino entertainment ought to check out all the latest UK Casino Sign Up offers from the top operators including 32Red and many of the sports betting casinos.
There is excellent information, should you be interested in playing online blackjack, roulette, the best progressives or slots - Online Casino Betting with the best introductory offers
Bookmark This Page