New Zealand vs Italy Betting Tips: Predictions & Best Bets

The All Blacks find themselves in uncharted Rugby World Cup territory on Friday night against Italy as they know they must win to keep their hopes of qualification alive. Never before have a New Zealand rugby team lost in the Pool stages at a World Cup but they were beaten in this year's opener by France so can afford no more slip-ups. Betting sites have made them long odds favourites and while Billy Grimshaw agrees the result is a foregone conclusion, he has still dug out a few bets worth chancing...

Ian Foster is under a fair bit of pressure as All Blacks boss right now and the team that hold themselves to the highest standards in world rugby will not be pleased if they do not brush aside the Italians. Italy come into the match with two wins from two games but their next two games against New Zealand and France will bring them back to reality with a bump, especially with the All Blacks top team being rolled back out for this clash.

At hooker Cody Taylor returns and in the back row Shannon Frizell makes a welcome return from injury to boost the All Blacks hopes of lifting a record fourth World Cup. He was in devastating form before his injury and will want to come back with a bang so Italy will be on high alert. After taking a rest against Namibia last time out the first choice wing pairing of Will Jordan and Mark Tele'a return and will both be desperate to get on the scoresheet, while Sam Whitelock will be waiting patiently from the substitutes bench to enter the fray and break the all time All Blacks appearance record currently held by the legend Richie McCaw.

Italy have also switched their side around somewhat but it looks like they also are going full strength, with their back row looking particularly strong defensively in comparison to previous iterations of the Italian national side. Nevertheless, the ABs look far too good across the park and I'd expect them to dispatch the Italians with relative ease.

New Zealand vs Italy Tips

For our main punt I like the look of New Zealand -28 on the handicaps. The All Blacks are hurting still from losing to France and although the battering of Namibia will have proven a tonic for some, most of the men who took on France sat that game out for rotational purposes. This is their first chance to really bite back in a competitive game and I'd expect them to show the Italians no mercy. New Zealand's side is stronger than it was even for the France game with the return of Frizell and although Italy do look an improving side, it is still a young team who could be blitzed away if the All Blacks fly out of the traps.

With clamours from New Zealand fans for the side to run the ball more moving forward I expect the All Blacks to be much more expansive even than they were against France in the opener and against an Italian side that failed to register a win in the Six Nations this will just be too much to handle. There is also some trepidation for me in buying into the hype around Italy considering they were down at half time to a Uruguay team who were pushed all the way by what I would describe as one of the worst teams at this World Cup, Namibia.

This step up in class could really catch the Italians out and with morale low the All Blacks will be desperate to fire a warning shot to all who have written them off for this tournament. The fact New Zealand have such a stacked bench in comparison to the Azzuri is another consideration when playing in the handicap markets and I think if the All Blacks do not blow their opponents away early, they could easily do so late on and the 28 start looks more than achievable.

Codie Taylor & Beauden Barrett To Score A Try

One of the angles I was keen on leading into this tournament, which truth be told has been hit and miss to put it mildly, was backing the hookers to score anytime. In the old days hookers were hardly try-scoring machines, however in modern rugby union they have become much more of a threat near the opposition try line. As I believe this game will be a comfortable one for the All Blacks I like the chances of plenty of the star men to cross the whitewash and William Hill's market for 'both to score' offers some value in the shape of All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor and the full back Beauden Barrett.

Barrett is still absolutely rapid when given the chance to show a clean pair of heels, and while his kicking game is perhaps now what he is known best for his try scoring record of 42 in 118 All Blacks games is fair. With the All Blacks fancied to run the ball more the wily veteran will be sniffing around for any half breaks or potential offloads to race away to score, and is a smashing support player now he has matured and can read the game superbly.

Taylor's claims for a try at hooker are simple. Italy are undoubtedly better than they have been but there is still the lurking suspicion the Azzuri have a soft underbelly and if the All Blacks get on a points scoring roll against them, I think their forwards could wilt. This will present ample opportunities at the breakdown or from set plays for forwards, and the hooker in particular, to crash over and so at 3/1 backing these two New Zealanders to score a try looks a decent secondary bet for the game.

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