The betting odds at the outset of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) strongly suggested that this match would in fact be the final, but thanks to the plucky victory over Australia by Ireland in the Pool stages, it meant that the ‘Wallabies’ found themselves in the unexpected half of the draw. If they were to get to the final, then they were going to have to do it the hard way with a quarter final against South Africa and this last four meeting with New Zealand.
They managed of course to win the first of those encounters last week in a pulsating, albeit low scoring game against the ‘Springboks’. In that game the Wallaby defence stood firm magnificently against a vibrant ‘Boks’ attack and where their open sided flanker, David Pocock produced one of the greatest ball winning performances of all time. Now the same cast of players will be asked to do exactly the same again, but this time on Sunday against the hosts and favourites, the mighty New Zealand ‘All Blacks’.
Despite Australia’s win over South Africa, Bookmakers across the board see the outcome of this match as a clear cut victory for The ‘All Blacks’, where Bet365 for instance have them 2/5 odds on to win, while allotting the Wallabies odds of 11/5. The highly unlikely draw can be backed at 25/1.
New Zealand of course came through their quarter final against Argentina, emphatically but with plenty of concerns. It was abundantly clear that they missed the mercurial Dan Carter at outside half, who was so cruelly ruled out of the tournament after picking up a groin injury. His replacement, Colin Slade only lasted half an hour or so against the ‘Pumas’ which now means that Head Coach, Graham Henry has been forced to select his third choice number ten, Aaron Cruden, a player with limited international experience.
With Carter in the team, the ‘All Blacks’ looked like they could score tries from anywhere, he dictated play perfectly, kicked handsomely and looked every bit the best outside half, the world has ever seen. Without him last week against Argentina, it took the team 67 minutes to score a try, a very strong indication that the free flowing play controlled by Carter was in some danger of being lost. Henry also has injury concerns with his captain, Richie McCaw, who will need to be at his absolute best on Sunday as it will be him that will do battle for much of the match with Pocock.
There are plenty of doubts too in the Australian outside half, Quade Cooper, who has yet to perform in the RWC to anything like the level he was showing in the Tri Nations and before that in Super Rugby series. He looked nervous throughout the match against the ‘Boks’ and has done very little in the tournament to appease the raucous Australian support. However, as Head Coach Robbie Deans has often said, if Cooper brings his A game onto the pitch, particularly on Sunday against the country in which he was born, then he is an out and out match winner and could easily be the difference between the two sides. In fact the 5/1 odds on offer from bet365 about him scoring a try at anytime during the match look worth taking.
There has been no end of statistics thrown up ahead of this match, the most positive one for New Zealand being that they have not lost to Australia at Eden Park since 1986. Countering that is the positive statistic for Australia which tells us that Australia has a 100% record against the ‘All Blacks’ in World Cups. Statistics however for a match of this magnitude should just be ignored and as Robbie Deans stated during the week, this is the first time the two teams have ever met each other in a semi final of a World Cup; that speaks volumes.
It is a match that New Zealand are justifiable favourites to win, but to do so they will have to overcome an Australian defence who managed between them last week to stop a free running, bull dozing Springbok team with great discipline and often great counter attacking rugby. This could possibly mean that an early try by either side is unlikely, which makes the bet on the first scoring play being a New Zealand penalty, which has odds of 13/8 look good.
The Australian defence can also rapidly turn itself into a great attacking force and will always be dangerous in possession in open play from anywhere on the pitch. Provided however the ‘All Blacks’ remain focussed and do let the occasion get to them, they have more than enough ammunition to see off the ‘Wallabies’ in what is almost certain to be an encounter of epic proportions. A win by New Zealand with a points margin of between 6-10 points which carries odds of 4/1 looks a sound proposition, while handicap punters can get even money odds on +7 for Australia and the same odds on -7 for New Zealand.
Match Betting
2/5 New Zealand
25/1 Draw
11/5 Australia
Handicap Betting
Evs New Zealand -7.0
Evs Australia +7.0
16/1 Draw
First Tryscorer Odds
10/1 Zac Guildford
10/1 Cory Jane
11/1 Hosea Gear
11/1 Digby Ioane
12/1 Isaza Toeava
12/1 Richard Kahui
12/1 Israel Dagg
12/1 James O’Connor
14/1 Lachlan Turner
14/1 Sonny Boy Williams
14/1 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14/1 Ma Nonu
14/1 Conrad Smith
First Scoring Play
13/8 New Zealand Penalty
15/8 Australia Penalty
4/1 New Zealand Try
13/2 Australia Try
16/1 Australia Drop Goal
18/1 New Zealand Drop Goal
Odds provided by Bet365.com, with live betting in-running throughout Sunday’s Semi Final match.
Posted: Friday, 14th October 2011
Author: Rodney Wise
Tags: rugby world cup, eden park, new zealand, australia, bet365,
 | Wales V France Odds Warren Gatlands Men Favourites For World Cup Semi Final Shane Williams heads the first try scorer betting | 13th Oct |
 | South Africa V Australia Odds Springboks A Good Bet To Book A Place In Semis Reigning world champions good value at evens | 7th Oct |
 | New Zealand V Argentina Betting Emphatic All Blacks Win Expected In World Cup Quarter Final Muliaina Can Mark 100th Test Cap with RWC Try | 7th Oct |
 | Ireland V Wales Odds Just Two Points Divide These Two In The Handicap Betting Ireland odds on favourites to reach semis | 6th Oct |
 | England V France Odds Toby Flood Can Inspire English To Quarter Final Win England odds on in Auckland | 6th Oct |
Headline News
 | Valencia V Stoke Betting Spanish Side Odds On To Win At The Mestalla Valencia Firm Favourites To Reach The Last Sixteen |
 | Man Utd V Ajax Betting Tempting Odds For Welbeck To Score First United Massive Odds On To Qualify For The Last Sixteen |
 | Mayakoba Classic Odds Back Johnson Wagner To Retain His Title In Mexico Defending Champion Well Fancied In The Latest Betting |
 | Racing Plus Chase Odds Planet Of Sound Heads The Kempton Betting Philip Hobbs Bids For A Fifth Win In The Valuable Grade Three |
 | Meryl Streep Falls Behind In Oscar Odds The Artist Looks Set To Sweep The Board |
BRAND NEW £200 free bets offer.
Open Account - Free £200 Bets With Paddypower
£25 free bet with William Hill.
Open Account - Claim £25 Free With William Hill
Ladbrokes are offering a brand new £50 free bet for new customers
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
Up to £200 worth of free bets with Bet365.
Open Account - Claim £200 Free With Bet365
Victor Chandler's new site, BetVictor, offers a massive £100 in free bets to new clients via our exclusive signup offer:
Open Account - Claim £100 in free bets with BetVictor
Online bookmaker Stan James offer up to £150 in free bets per new account.
Open Account - Free £150 Bets With Stan James
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