Wales vs Georgia Tips, Betting Preview, Predictions & Odds

Enfield Independent
 
Wales vs Georgia Tips, Betting Preview, Predictions & Odds

Wales vs Georgia tips:

Wales are already through to the knockout stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and confidence will be running on a high after their 40-6 demolition job over Australia in their latest Pool C match. 

A win against Georgia will see them top the table and they can look forward to a quarter-final match against Japan or Argentina, who clash in their final Pool D game on Sunday. 

The latest Rugby World Cup odds suggest it will be a stroll in the park for the Welsh. Still, Georgia are a tricky and often unpredictable side and although they only have their pride to play for, they would love nothing more than to exit the World Cup on a real high by beating Wales. 

They will undoubtedly make Wales work hard for success and not a single yard will be easily given up. The Welsh are a top price of 1/12 to win the game and as short as 1/25 with some bookmakers, which will be of little appeal to the average punter.

As such, we’ve picked out two alternative bets to consider placing on the game which we’ve detailed below.

Wales capable of overcoming the handicap

Wales, who are currently ranked seventh in the world, are generally 10/11 with UK bookmakers to overcome a handicap of minus 17.5 points, with Georgia priced up at evens given a 17-point start. From a statistical point of view, the handicap marks are around what would be expected.

Wales were held to a six-point win by a very useful Fiji team in their opening game and Rugby World Cup minnows Portugal held them to a 20-point winning margin in their second outing. 

Australia have been below their swashbuckling best of yesteryear but Wales played superbly well and were technically far superior to the men from down under.

The Welsh are hitting top form at exactly the right time and an 18-plus points win over Georgia should be within their grasp if they play up to the same level as they did against the Australians. Gareth Anscombe replacing an injured Dan Biggar as fly-half adds an attractive dimension to the side.

Anscombe, born in New Zealand, came on for Biggar early on in the game against Australia and racked up an impressive 23 points with a conversion and six successful penalty kicks, topping his performance off with a drop goal just for good measure. He is a powerful weapon for the Welsh and a superb playmaker in top form.

If Georgia are forced into giving up penalties to the Welsh, then Anscombe seems sure to earn some precious points. Overall, since the Welsh will field a strong team for the match they should be wearing the Georgians down by the end of the first half and can be expected to take complete control in the second 40-minute period.

Wales have made five other changes from their game against Australia, with hooker Dewi Lake taking the captaincy for the match. Tomos Williams comes in at scrum half and there are also starts for winger Rio Dyer, flanker Tommy Reffell and lock Dafydd Jenkins.

Total points market offers interest

The over/under market is always tricky for punters to get to grips with but online bookmakers have pitched this match too high for our liking, with the line set at 50.5 points by bet365.

Although a comfortable enough win by Wales should be on the cards, Georgia have proven to be a tough team to break down in the Rugby World Cup so far and this match is unlikely to see many points accrued in the first half at least. 

Georgia leaked a couple of sloppy tries to Australia very early in their opening match but they were rock solid at the back against Fiji in their last game. 

There were only nine points on the board at half time in that match and Wales could also find the going equally challenging for much of the first half as well.

It is also hard to envisage Georgia getting much change out of the Welsh team at any stage of the game, so 50 points or less is what we’re expecting.