Rugby World Cup 2023 predictions and tips today 05/10/2023

Pundit Feed is your one-stop-show for the best odds. Whether you’re completely new to rugby or a seasoned veteran, we know rugby and we know odds, so sit back and relax as we take you through the Rugby World Cup Thursday night fixture’s safe bets to put your house on.

New Zealand v Uruguay predictions and tips

The sole match this evening sees the two-time world champions and perennial Rugby World Cup contenders, New Zealand, take on the perennial underdogs and everyone’s favourite second team, Uruguay.

New Zealand have had a steady tournament so far, neither exceeding nor missing expectations, after recovering from the slightly disappointing to hosts, France, to obliterate Namibia and Italy in devastating fashion. A big win over Uruguay will mark their pool stage a success.

Los Teros, on the other hand, don’t have the pool points to show for it but have been loudly and passionately punching above their weight and tested the full array of Italy, France and Namibia’s mettle, beating the latter. A strong performance at OL Stadium in Lyon tonight will seal their Rugby World Cup as extremely successful.

Leicester Fainga’anuku to score two tries or more @ 4/5 (1.80)

Leicester is pure sauce and a born try scorer. He scored 13 tries in 13 games for the Crusaders in Super Rugby last season, (yes you read that right) including a hattrick versus Kiwi rivals the Blues and two more against the same time later in the season in the semi-finals.

He averages 0.5 tries per game through his whole Crusaders career, 30 tries in 55 games, against Super Rugby’s best defences. In a game where New Zealand are likely to score a fair few points and get at least four or five tries, Leicester to be on the scoresheet twice or more is a no-brainer and a bet safe as houses.

Damian McKenzie to score the last try @ 12/1 (13.0)

Similarly to Leicester, McKenzie knows all too well how to get over the whitewash. This is a man with 18 international tries in just 28 starts and 45 total caps. DMac has ice in his veins, never letting pressure get in the way of playing his style of flashy, exciting rugby and regularly winning matches with moments of magic, whether at club level for the Blues or in the test arena for New Zealand.

Furthermore, McKenzie’s two strongest traits are his pace and stamina. He is absolutely rapid, one of the fastest players in the world and maybe the fastest All Black and he never runs out of steam, lending his stamina and endurance to the previously mentioned aptitude for winning matches at the death.

Therefore, DMac is a safe bet for the last try scorer, as defenders begin to tire and the All Blacks begin to wear down Uruguay, who play tier one nations and at the pace and intensity that tier one nations play at a lot lot less frequently, McKenzie will be all too grateful to collect the last try of the game.