Rugby Tips: Best bets for Ireland v Romania & England v Argentina
Rugby World Cup Tips
Handicap: Romania +65
First Tryscorer: Caelan Doris
Handicap: Argentina (-1)
Winning Margin: Argentina to win by 1-7 Points
Ireland v Romania Betting Tip
It’s another Rugby World Cup. Talk to any real rugby fan in Ireland and they’ll tell you that Ireland are the greatest team in the World and will go all the way this year.
Talk to any armchair rugby fan who tunes in to the sport every four years and they’ll tell you that Ireland will – like always – fail to progress past the Quarter-Final stage.
It is quite staggering that the #1 ranked team in World Rugby have never made it further.
One thing both the die-hards and those bandwagoners do agree on though – is that Ireland will stroll through Romania at ease in their opening Pool B fixture, and that much stiffer tests await.
Handicap: Romania +65
Okay, I know I just said that we were all in agreement that Ireland will stroll through Romania – and they will. But by 66 points? Ireland have never scored 66 points in a World Cup game, never mind winning it by 66.
If Ireland are up by ~45 points with 15 minutes to go, I don’t see them going for the jugular and running over four or five late tries. We’re expecting sweltering conditions in Bordeaux and I think this game might have a slow start to it. I wouldn’t be touching Ireland on the handicap pre-match and will be keeping an eye on it inplay. I’d be very surprised if the line doesn’t get shorter in play.
Romania are the whipping boys of the group, but have covered a handicap of +65 in each of their last 50 matches. Just one more for us here please.
First Tryscorer – Caelan Doris 10/1
I’m steering away from Ireland’s wingers an looking at the power Leinster #8 Caelan Doris to run over first for Ireland. Doris averages a try every 5 games or so for Ireland, but with Ireland expecting to run over 8 or 9 tries at least in this one, it would be a shock if the former Blackrock College man didn’t go over the line.
Rob Herring, James Lowe & Keith Earls take up too much of the market at the top of the betting, which is why I’m taking a stab at Doris to get Ireland’s first try.
England v Argentina betting tips
Argentina (-1)
England kick off what could be a disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign against the rapidly-improving Argentina on Saturday night and who would have thought even 12 months ago that they’d be heading into this contest as the slight underdogs? The Red Rose have been woeful under Steve Borthwick while The Pumas will be fired up by coach Michael Cheika and are in the far better form.
England should be able to rouse themselves on the biggest stage, but when you consider Argentina will be doing the same I fancy the South American side to triumph. They beat England last time they met and everything’s saying we’re in for a repeat so Argentina (-1) looks cracking value.
Argentina to win by 1-7 Points
Despite all England’s problems it might be quite a close contest. That aforementioned Pumas win last time the two met at Twickenham just over a year ago came by a single point.
However, there’s a good chance they improve on that, especially in the wake of England’s recent results and that woeful 30-22 home loss to Fiji. By contrast, Argentina have had narrow losses to South Africa and Australia in recent months, something England can only dream of at the moment. Argentina to win by 1-7 Points could be full of value.
Rugby World Cup Tips
Handicap: Romania +65
First Tryscorer: Caelan Doris
Handicap: Argentina (-1)
Winning Margin: Argentina to win by 1-7 Points
*All odds and lines quoted correct at time of publication but subject to change
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
