south africa

The Aussies run out again in the Tri Nations this week, as South Africa v Australia betting takes place. Australia go into the game on the back of a defeat by New Zealand last weekend, in a match that fully lived up to its billing. While the home nations prepare for the 2011 Rugby World Cup by playing test matches, for the big trio from the Southern Hemisphere, it is a full on tilt, blood and thunder competitiveness for the bragging rights of being the Tri Nations winner. Australia and New Zealand met after both sides had beaten the Springboks in their opening matches, and it was the Kiwis, Rugby World Cup favourites, who took the initiative and put the visiting Aussies to the sword in the first half. The Australia Rugby team still have a great deal of potential about them, make no mistake, they are a rising force again, they are just not quite there at the moment. But their second half performance, in which they narrowly outscored the Kiwis in the defeat, will have given them hope ahead of the World Cup. Australia had comfortably beaten the Springboks in their opening match, but found the Kiwis too much to handle. Bravely the Aussies tried as hard as they could to keep the Kiwis stretched in defence, but the clinical finishing of the All Blacks still managed to cut through, like the proverbial knife through butter. But Australia’s second half performance was one which should make people sit up and take notice, but they never gave up, they scrapped and worked hard to get back into the game, and they really do remain a strong Rugby World Cup bet behind the All Blacks. With the Kiwis usually ending up having big tournament jitters, you never know, as Australia look the most likely to slip in the backdoor. Australia have the creative running from deep that Northern Hemisphere teams lack, that element of surprise, adventure and trust in their own ability.

As for the Springboks, well they started the Tri Nations with such a weakened squad that they never were going to be at the races and it has proven to be that way so far. They couldn’t compete with the running and creativity of either Australia or New Zealand, but now for the first time, they are getting towards having a full complement. We should see a stronger Springbok side turn out for this home match. They should be fresh and fit, because the bulk of the squad never travelled for their away matches, and while the Boks have had injury problems, this resting of players ahead of a World Cup has been a tactic seen before. Back on home turf, they have a chance now to start warming up the big guns ahead of their Rugby World Cup campaign. We will see a very experienced South Africa side including Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha. South Africa will make 13 changes in total from their last match, as they take a good look at the experience to take into the 2011 Rugby World Cup. What impact will coach Peter De Villiers get out of all this? Well the key could be staying power throughout the match, a little more composure under pressure and when trying to control the game. The return of the big guns for South Africa will really make this an interesting match against Australia, who face this tricky away trip. South Africa with their new shape could spring a surprise, but most of this starting fifteen have been on the sidelines for a good month or so, so it will depend on how match sharp and fit they are.

South Africa v Australia Tri Nations Betting
South Africa to win: 4/6 at SkyBet
Draw: 22/1 at Paddy Power
Australia to win: 6/4 at Totesport

South Africa v Australia Betting Tip: You can generally expect a bruising affair from the Springboks. The Aussies though will have continuity and match sharpness, and only make two changes from their last match. It will be important for Australia to strike early and hard and open up a lead before the Boks can get into the match. If that happens, Australia should edge it. If it gets drawn into a heavyweight battle up front, then South Africa will have their say. Still, will back the Aussies to come away with a narrow victory.

The 2011 Tri Nations Rugby betting will serve as a good prelude to the Rugby World Cup which kicks off later in the year. This is the 16th annual running of this mini tournament, and this could very well become the Four Nations next year, with Argentina joining the fray, so there will be a bit of extra pride on the line in being the last winners of the current format. Each team plays the other twice, once at home and once away, so while the teams just run out four matches each, they are generally pretty epic ones. There is rarely less bruising encounters on the rugby field than when any two of New Zealand, Australian and South Africa come together. This is rugby played at the highest level, and the month long tournament will give us a good look at what could be in store from the nations at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. So this is worth watching, not only for quality rugby, but also for betting options. This year’s tournament has been cut down to each team playing each other twice instead of three times. Teams get points for a win, as well as bonus points for scoring 4 Tries in a match, and for losing by no more than 7 Points. There is a great window of opportunity to get your teeth into some rugby betting ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with three teams going into the Tri Nations in a different status. The Kiwis are the powerhouses, the ones which everyone wants to take down, but are their cracks if their top stars like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw don’t make it. The Wallabies suffered a bad defeat against Samoa in a warm up match, but they are packed with future explosive talent. As for the Springboks, they are sending just two regular starters to the Tri Nations for their first match in Australia. It is a mixed bag of approaches to the tournament, so who will prevail in 2011 Tri Nations betting? Here we take a look at the three nations and assess their chances.

New Zealand

Absolute favourites to win the 2011 Tri Nations and not surprising really. They really look untouchable at the moment, and have won seven of the last nine tournaments. They won last year’s event with a 100% record and the other nations just couldn’t get close to them. They ran up a massive points difference of +73, which is the largest in Tri Nations rugby history. Their dominance in the Tri Nations is superb, winning ten of the fifteen renewals of the event. They are the only team to have a positive points difference when all Tri Nations records are totalled up. They are the current IRB ranked number one team in the world and they play one warm up match against Fiji on July 22nd. That will be their first outing for the year, after successfully touring the UK last November and beating all of the home nations. So this is the first time we will get to see just how powerful they are again, and all signs are pointing to them running away with this year’s tournament. You have to look at the main man Dan Carter in the half backs, who pulls all the creative strings for New Zealand. The Kiwis do rely on him a lot, and they need him fully fit for the World Cup. They can be got at in the line outs, but otherwise they do have control in their pack, and once they secure quick ball, they can be devastating once they get out wide. Skipper Richie McCaw, who missed most of the Super 15 season with a foot injury, is an important cog in the Kiwi machine, and he is ready and fired up to prove himself for the Tri Nations and the World Cup of course. The Skipper is not in his best form, that’s understandable, but the more games he gets under his belt, the better the Kiwis can get. Well worth backing and the price on them is not too bad at the moment. There’s a big six weeks ahead for the Kiwis, in their Tri Nations hopes and their World Cup hopes.

New Zealand 2011 Tri Nations Fixtures
30th July: New Zealand v South Africa
6th August: New Zealand v Australia
20th August: South Africa v New Zealand
27th August: Australia v New Zealand

New Zealand 2011 Tri Nations Betting Odds: 1/2 at Boylesports

Australia

There is a bit of a weakened feel about Australia ahead of the Tri Nations. However, there is still a lot of raw, young talent in the Australian side. They are not the strongest which they can be, not by any stretch of the imagination, but look as if they are on the right side of their transition. One thing the Aussies will have is confidence, but they have been prone to whinging their way through the Tri Nations. They did upset the Kiwis in friendly match last October, which was something of a surprise given their status as underdogs, and the rise and rise of the Kiwis. However, if they were looking to challenge at the Tri Nations, then their warm up match, a shocking loss to Samoa won’t have done their confidence any good. They really came out sloppy, looking as if they felt the match was a foregone conclusion right from the kick off. But in slippery conditions, they really slipped up badly. Or will have been the wake up call which they really needed? Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans has selection problems, with prop Benn Robinson a major casualty. But it is not all doom and gloom for the Aussies, as there really is a wealth of young talent in the country. Whether they are ready or not to break through fully at international status to compete with the Kiwis, is a different matter although. The biggest thing that the Aussies can build upon here, is their defence. There is a train of thought, that the Aussies, because of their exciting crop of young players, can prove many people wrong if their defence holds up. The Tri Nations is actually all about defence. The best defence wins, and so that organisation is there for the Aussies, even if the team together needs to build cohesion which will only come through experience. The Aussies may be capable of causing an upset in the Tri Nations, but realistically you do not see them beating the Kiwis twice, so that will just hold them back in the title race here. May be worth a punt, because of value, and because there is an air that a new golden generation is brewing. The Wallabies are not as strong up front as the Kiwis, but we could see some brave performances from them. Watch out for Ashley Cooper and Will Genia as they will likely be the stand out stars for the Aussies. The Aussies have not won the Tri Nations since 2001, but how they would love to finish on top before the format of the competition changes. If they do happen to pull out the stops in the Tri Nations, they will be a strong bet for the World Cup.

Australia 2011 Tri Nations Fixtures
23rd July: Australia v South Africa
6th August: New Zealand v Australia
13th August: South Africa v Australia
27th August: Australia v New Zealand

Australia 2011 Tri Nations Betting Odds: 3/1 at Stan James

South Africa

Sadly, with South Africa announcing that they have 21 players who can’t participate in the tournament because of injury, it is a weakened Springboks which will be seeing in the Tri Nations. There is a massive amount of experience missing from their squad, so it really is not worth looking at them to win here. They were the last team to break New Zealand’s dominance in the Tri Nations, the Springboks winning it back in 2009. Their travel plans to Australia for their first match of the Tri Nations was disrupted when their plan had to turn around and head back because of engine failure. Coach Peter de Villiers and his crew made it though, and after seeing Australia lose to Samoa in one of the biggest international rugby shocks for some time, the young Boks may be ready to throw caution to the wind and upset some people. They certainly have nothing to lose going into the 2011 Tri Nations, because they are so short on first team talent and experience, that no-one is expecting them to produce anything. Some are criticising the Springboks for this, as it is what they did ahead of the 2007 World Cup, the year when they edged England in the final. They had players who were well rested for the World Cup, but it is always a risk to take over consistency in selection. One thing is for sure, is that it will give Peter de Villiers a very good look at his support staff, as most of the first team will be back for the World Cup. The Springboks on show will be fighting for places in the World Cup squad, so they could be inspired, but with just two regular starters in the squad, the Springboks aren’t going to win this. The Springboks are always rough and ready up front in the pack, and while they will bring size and power to the Tri Nations, but not so much quality perhaps. That will hurt them. They have three Tri Nations titles to their name, but don’t look capable of adding to it this year.

South Africa 2011 Tri Nations Fixtures
23rd July: Australia v South Africa
30th July: New Zealand v South Africa
13th August: South Africa v Australia
20th August: South Africa v New Zealand

South Africa 2011 Tri Nations Betting Odds: 10/1 at SportingBet

Well, now that England have failed miserably in the one day internationals against Australia Down Under (losing 6-1), it’s time to look at the impending action at the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Yes, it will be right on our screens before we know it, so it is time to look at the front runners for the tournament. This is some of the best cricket action which you will see all year, with the matches coming thick and fast from the World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The tournament runs from February 19th and the Final is over a month later on April 2nd in Mumbai and the host nations will take a huge advantage from playing under their familiar conditions. In particular India and Sri Lanka, who have to be looked at as the strongest bets to win outright. However, the Australians will be in the hunt and it is hard to back against them when it comes to tournaments like this. But the conditions may just tip the balance in favour of India and Sri Lanka. This is the World Cup and crazy things can happen. Ireland beating Pakistan in 2007. Kenya beating Sri Lanka in 2003! Zimbabwe beating England in 1992! Expect some thrills and spills in the enduring tournament. India and Sri Lanka look as if they will be the teams to beat, and here we take a look over the chances of all the entering nations, and offer our valuable tips as to how the tournament may play itself out.

ICC ODI Rankings
1st Australia, 2nd India, 3rd Sri Lanka, 4th South Africa, 5th England, 6th Pakistan, 7th New Zealand, 8th Bangladesh, 9th West Indies

Australia 11/2 at Bet365

The defending Champions and after brushing the challenge of England aside, they will be a major threat at the tournament. Are they the best team in the world? Probably not, certainly not by the looks of it anyway, but is there a more driven, committed and confident team when it comes to winning cricket tournaments than Australia? Again, probably not. They went into the last World Cup on the back of a poor run of form, but once they got a sniff of tournament cricket, they turned into a completely different side and blew away the competition. Dangle that golden carrot in front of their faces and they will be a dangerous side, and one teams will want to avoid. Favourites? No, it is still hard to look at them as favourites, as you will discover when you read on down the page, but the fact is that Australia will not give up their crown easily. They are the world champions, and will fight tooth and nail to hang on to that status. Not in their prime at the moment, but they will be dangerous. The one thing which may let them down, is the lack of quality spin bowling in the side, something which will be need out east. The Aussies are used to fast, flat tracks, and really don’t carry a threat in the spinning conditions. Still ranked as the world number one ODI team and they will take some beating when it comes to the crunch.
Australia World Cup History: Won the World Cup 4 times, including the last three

India 13/4 at Unibet

Here are the favourites. They will be helped out by the tournament being partly held in their own back yard. The Indian side have historically been one which looks to have consummate quality in every position and in every aspect of their game. They have seldom lived up to their status as tournament favourites in the past, and that is pretty much the only question about them. However, this time around it should be all so very different, because they have home territory, and their exciting bowling attack should come up trumps. They sometimes look a bit hesitant and vulnerable at the top of the batting order, but once they get going, then they should be out of side. Sehwag has declared himself fit (he’s vice captain) and should be one of the batting stars at the 2011 World Cup. It has been a lot wait since 1983 for India to lift a World Cup, and really they should be one of the front runners here, they have to be. There is probably not a better batting line up in the tournament, than which India can field. Just edged out at the beginning of January in a five match series in South Africa. They will be much stronger on their home turf. Should see a much more composed India, even with the added pressure of playing at home. Will be out to score big revenge against Bangladesh who beat them at the 2007 World Cup.
India World Cup History: Winners, 1983

Sri Lanka 5/1 at William Hill

Have to admire what Sri Lanka bring to the One Day International side. They are arguably the most talented, most explosive and most talented side in this format of the game. They are actually ranked third in the world, but will make their presence known here. They have tasted victory before, back in 1996 when the tournament was held in India, Pakistan and yes, Sri Lanka. If they were to land the big prize again, they would be worthy winners. What Sri Lanka have is an ideal balance, and some of the most attacking batsmen in this format of the game. They are a dangerous batting side, who can quickly run up big totals, and they will be a big threat here. They really make a good tip to go all of the way, simply because of home advantage. You wouldn’t back them as being as steady as India, or as hardened as Australia, but they have their own style of cricket and they will rush and harass and put opposition to the sword. One of the best ODI sides in the world to watch, would be worthy winners and are the cricket betting tip here. Have just beaten the West Indies in a ODI series as a warm up, and should get stronger through the tournament.
Sri Lanka World Cup History: Winners 1996

Pakistan 9/1 at Victor Chandler

You never really know which Pakistan are going to turn up, just to coin a popular sporting cliché. They are one of those teams who look to have the perfect balance of batting and bowling in their side, but there is still a fragility about them which makes you hesitant to lay down too much money on them. But, that having been said, they have won before in the face of adversity, and you would expect them to be in the latter stages of the tournament, with conditions favoring them. Perhaps not quite as settled or as strong as they could be, but they can turn on the power when it matters most. They just look more beatable than any of the aforementioned teams though. They are immensely talented, but they just seem to self implode, and almost seem impossible to play together as a unit, something which is naturally an asset when it comes to tournament cricket. They will win games, they will give the higher ranked teams here a good run for their money, but at some point down the line, you just expect them to come off the rails. Just enjoyed a tight series victory over New Zealand as a warm up, and will be led at the tournament by Afridi. Probably just too much frailty to gel together and win this one. Was supposed to be co-hosting the event as well, but was stripped of the rights after attacks on a visiting Sri Lanka team in 2009.
Pakistan World Cup History: Winners in 1992

South Africa 11/2 at Totesport

Have always been a big fan and admirer of the South African power cricket. They are not afraid to have a go at teams, yet they don’t always look the most comfortable sides in action. Have been on top of their game though of late, beating India, and should be able to go close here with form and a good draw. On their day, South Africa are a team to be feared, when they are having an off day though, they seem to fall apart quickly as a unit. However, they recently beat India in South Africa, and that will have given them an immense amount of confidence. Weaker in the batting line up than in the bowling department, but their bowlers may struggle out in the sub continent conditions. They haven’t been to the final of a World Cup before, and like India in a way, they have fallen short of potential when it has come to the big games. Still, they will bat hard and give it all they have. It is just that big match potential. They have quality in their side, but they still have to play up at their very best to beat the best, and when not at their peak, they look vulnerable and completely beatable. India have done well against South Africa before and you would expect the home nation to edge things over the South Hemisphere team at the 2011 World Cup. An outside threat. They’ll be in the knockouts, and it will depend on the draw from there.
South Africa World Cup History: No finals

England 15/2 at SportingBet

Well, they stunned the world last year when they won the Twenty20 World Cup against all of the odds. Do they stand much of a chance at the 2011 Cricket World Cup? Sadly no. As their showing against Australia in the ODI series has proven, they are not one of the better teams in the world at this format. Yes, they went into the series against the Aussies having not lost a ODI series since the 2009 Ashes, but then, the level of opposition wasn’t of the standard of any of the above teams. England do have decent batting power, but they lack a genuine ODI opener, and with so many injury problems in the bowling department, it is unlikely that they will pose too much of a threat. Should qualify from their group, one would hope, as they are  teamed up with Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, West Indies, South Africa and India and four teams go through from each of the two groups to the quarter finals. You would expect England to fall in the knockouts quickly though. Before the Australian series, they looked good value, right now, they look depleted, tired and out of sorts. There is also a major injury worry over Eoin Morgan, their best ODI performer with the bat during 2010. That would be a huge blow. They just don’t look as if they have the right balance and form at the moment to win, their confidence must also be shot too after the Aussies destroyed them.
England World Cup History: Lost back to back finals in 1987 and 1992

Group A Outright Winner

Sri Lanka: 15/8 at SportingBet
Australia: 2/1 at Bet365
Pakistan: 7/2 at Victor Chandler
New Zealand: 8/1 at SkyBet
Zimbabwe: 66/1 at Stan James
Kenya: 750/1 at Bodog
Canada: 1000/1 at Bodog

As we’ve tipped them to go all the way and win the tournament, would look for Sri Lanka to win the group really. They are better than Australian and better than Pakistan at the moment, and they should be able to take out both of them.  Australia really don’t represent bad value though in this tournament, but really should have been taken in a stronger priced ante post bet before their trouncing of the in form England after the Ashes series. This is an interesting group really, and top spot should be fought out between Sri Lanka and Australia. Everyone will just wondering what Pakistan bring to the table. New Zealand will make a nuisance of themselves and should be able to battle for third place.

Group B Outright Winner

India: 2/1 at Victor Chandler
South Africa: 11/4 at Bet365
England: 10/3 at Totesport
West Indies: 8/1 at Blue Square
Bangladesh: 20/1 at Bodog
Netherlands: 500/1 at Totesport
Ireland: 500/1 at Bodog

Really, you would expect India, being the home side to take control of this group. The matches against West Indies, Bangladesh, Netherland and Ireland are winnable for India, South Africa and England. So it may come down to who will take points off each other between those three. India will be helped by their support and their conditions, and are capable of taking out both England and SA, and that is what will tip the balance of power in this group. The best bet behind them is South Africa, who should be able to overpower England.

England v South Africa Betting Odds
England to win: 1/2 at Paddy Power
Draw: 22/1 at Unibet
South Africa: 2/1 at Bet365

Online Bookmaker Promotion: SportingBet are running Rugby Refunds for the weekend. If the handicap tie is the winning selection for any of the Autumn Internationals, then SportingBet will refund your losing bet as a free bet, right up to the value of £25! So, have a bet on any Handicap Prices for any of this weekend’s international rugby matches, and you’ll get a stake refund if the Handicap Tie is the winning selection. England are -6 Handicap for a price of Evens at SportingBet. There is also still time to get a free £50 bet when you open a new account. This is a great sign up bonus, worth double the regular amount of £25 until the end of November, so get in quick!

England are looking for the same side which brought them a record victory over Australia a fortnight ago, to bring an inspiring win over South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday. The match closes out the November series of games for England, and a victory would give England their third win in a row. After starting off with a defeat against the All Blacks, England responded well to beat Australia in emphatic fashion. Last weekend they had to grind out a result against Samoa, which they did with a 26-13 scoreline, after coach Martin Johnson had rang the changes. But Johnson now goes back to the same fifteen which put Australia to the sword. All of sudden there is more optimism surrounding England than there has been for some time. A win over the Springboks would really cap that off, but of course, the side which beat them in the last World Cup Final are never a push over. Back into the side come Lewis Moody, Mike Tindall moves back into the centre, while up front Tom Croft and Dan Cole regain their starting places. Scrum half Ben Youngs will need to find the same spark of creativity that he had against Australia, but lost against Samoa.

England have been more expansive, and Johnson is finally delivering on his word that England will produce more attacking rugby. A lot of the changes have to be down to the people that Johnson are putting on the pitch in the first place, players like Chris Ashton and fullback Ben Foden. England are no where near as being genuine World Cup 2011 challengers as the coaching staff and fans would really like, but this November has seen a significant shift forward for England. However, as displayed in the game against Samoa last weekend, there is one big difference between England and the best teams in the world. That is finishing power. Having that clinical ruthless edge to get over the try line with a higher percentage of attacks. That is still letting England down, but at least they are going forward with some kind of conviction. Maybe the rest will all fall into place.

South Africa are not as strong as they have been for some time now. This has been a tough year for them, completely being outplayed in the tri-nations, while suffering defeat at the hands of the Scottish last weekend. However, the SpringBoks always raise their game against England, and this will probably be the most physical and bruising encounter of the four matches England will have played this November. South Africa are currently on a six match winning streak against England. But England do have the momentum going into the match this time however, and will be favourite to beat an out of sort SpringBoks side. What the game will be though, is intense. South Africa are big side up front, and they are experienced. So they may not be on the best form, but they are still a handful. They still beat Ireland, who are arguably, still the best of the home nations. There will also be the factor of wounded pride. The SpringBoks will be wanting to shake that shock defeat against the Scots out of the system, and there will be no better way to forget it, than by beating England at Twickenham. South Africa go with Ruan Pienaar at scrum half for this one.

England will face a tougher battle up front than they did against New Zealand, Australia and Samoa. The South Africa pack is a wily one, and will use that area of the game to disrupt England. The SpringBoks have the power there to drive England back, and while England do have the more mobile and more dynamic pack, they may just have to double their physical efforts to secure and win ball against a rampaging back of SpringBoks. For your rugby betting, you would expect that if England can weather any early storm by the SpringBoks, who want to take their frustrations of last weekend’s result out on the England pack, then the home side should have enough to win. England have the confidence and that counts for a lot, but they need to contain the power that is in the South Africa pack. If England use quick ball like they did against Australia and start running the lines better, then there is no reason why England cannot finish with three wins out of four in these November tests. Look for Mark Cueto to end his barren spell with no tries, he has a good record against South Africa.

England:
Backs: B Foden, C Ashton, M Tindall, S Hape, M Cueto; T Flood, B Youngs
Forwards: A Sheridan, D Hartley, D Cole, C Lawes, T Palmer, T Croft, L Moody, N Easter.
Replacements: S Thompson, D Wilson, S Shaw, H Fourie, D Care, C Hodgson, M Banahan.

England v South Africa Stats
Games Played 31
England wins: 12
South Africa wins: 18
Draws: 1

Largest Points for England v SA: 53 (53-3)
Largest Points for South Africa v ENG: 58 (58-10)

Largest winning margin for England v SA: 53-3
Largest winning margin for South Africa v ENG: 58-10

Average points for England v SA: 15.48
Average points for South Africa v ENG: 20.6

While the England v New Zealand rugby match at Twickenham on Saturday is largely taking a lot of the headlines, Ireland and Wales are also in action against southern hemisphere opponents. Taking a look at the November series of Rugby Internationals, online bookmaker Blue Square presents some very interesting rugby betting markets to take a look at. Notably the rugby betting handicap section for the Test Matches on Saturday posed some very interesting questions from a betting perspective. There’s nothing quite like a good northern v southern hemisphere battle on the rugby field, and naturally, just as with any sports betting, you immediately look at the strength of the favourites to determine how you make your wager. Largely the favourites bank a lot of money, because punters want to see something for their money, even if it is only a little profit at short odds. That is understandable, but in the age of internet betting, there are so many more markets available than just outright betting odds, that much better profits can be earned for the same result. If you are expecting a New Zealand win, then you can make profit on that expected outcome, by dipping into handicap betting or margins.

England v New Zealand

The Kiwis are the best in the world at the game, and that is not in question. Does that mean they are infallible? Does that mean England shouldn’t even bother turning up? Of course not, as the great sporting arena of Twickenham will be expectant of England running the All Blacks close in this tough fixture. However, the Kiwis are strong favourites in the outright betting market, and that makes the Handicap betting for the match, very interesting. Looking at the stats for England v New Zealand, you can see on average, that England have on average, been outscored by 11 points per match by the All Blacks. That is why, when you look at England v New Zealand handicaps, England +12 (and a New Zealand -12) pretty much represents the break even line in the match. This is just going based on average winning margins between the two countries. So, if you want to lengthen your odds just a tad, then you can look at the half margins, with England +11.5 being offered at 5/6 with Blue Square. In order to make any large standing profits, you are either going to be looking at New Zealand to start with a big minus handicap, or for England to start with a slender positive. For example, England +5.5 is 13/8, while England +8.5 is worth a good look at odds of 6/5. For the Kiwis, if you expect them to run riot, which is feasible, then a -17.5 point handicap will bring you a decent 13/8. A New Zealand 11-15 winning margin will fetch a nice 5/1 with Blue Square.

Wales v Australia

Wales are slipping backwards down the world rankings, and they take on an Australia side which beat New Zealand in a recent match, ending the All Blacks’ quest to equal the record number of consecutive test match victories. The Aussies are always a dangerous side and you can never switch off against them. They will be expected to get the better of the Welsh side by at least a good try score. That is why, looking at a Wales +9 (or Australia -9) Handicap fetches 10/11 with Blue Square. Just like the Kiwis against England, you are going to need to look bigger on the margin of victory for the Wallabies. Wales only have a 34% success rate against Australia and the average difference per game between the two sides is, you guessed it, 9 points. The last time the two teams met was in November last year, when Australia romped home to a 21 point victory in 12-33 triumph in Wales. The Welsh have lost their last three outings now, one of them being an absolute hammering (42-9) by New Zealand back in June. The Welsh will play with passion and pride, but the Aussies are so much sharper at the moment, and talented. It will take a lot for Wales to win, so you would have to look at how big a margin Australia will inflict upon them. It’s likely to be touching upon two try scores or better, therefore an Australia 11-15 winning margin is nicely balanced at 5/1.

Ireland v South Africa

This should be a bruising encounter. The Springboks finished bottom of the pile in this year’s tri-nations, and is realistically the best chance that one of the home nations has of winning on Saturday. In fact, you can look at Ireland as favourites for this one, but it could be a pretty tight affair. Ireland have a pretty woeful record against South Africa actually, winning on 21% of their matches against the Springboks. However, in the current swing of things, Ireland on a three match winning streak against South Africa, and they should be backed to do it again, especially at home. In the corresponding fixture last year, Ireland ran out 15-10 winners and there is only an average of around an 8 point difference between the two sides when they meet (in favour of South Africa). Ireland at home are always a tough prospect, and that is why they are just edging things in the handicap betting. You are looking at Ireland -2 or South Africa +2 for around the parity line for 10/11. An Ireland -5.5 handicap for 6/5 is not too far out of the question, and if you fancy the Irish to push the boat out to -8.5 then that brings 13/8. As it should be a close match, looking at an Ireland 1-5 point winning margin is being offered for 4/1 at Blue Square.

If you are new to Blue Square, then you can also double your money when you open an account. All that you need to get the generous bonus, is to place a first bet of a minimum of £5, and whether it wins or loses, Blue Square will simply give a free £10 bet. This is a nice entry into a very good online betting experience with Blue Square, and with clear and concise navigation around the site, along with good prices, the 200%  welcome bonus puts the icing on the cake. November is a big month for International Rugby, and Blue Square could be your home for following the home nations against the tough challenges from the southern half of the world.

World Cup Betting Helped After Edgy Openers

The second round of the group stage matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup starts with the Group A match between hosts South Africa and Uruguay. Now we have had the chance to see these teams in action already, it can help in betting strategy as we will have a picture as to what these reams really are about on the World Stage. Teams should be a little more gung ho from now on, needing to pick up three points which will steer them firmly towards the second round. South Africa battled hard in their opening draw against Mexico, taking the lead through a fine finish, but were unable to hold on against the enterprising Mexicans. The performance though from the Bafana Bafana will have given the home fans extra belief that their team are peaking at the right time under Alberto Parreira. Since he re-took charge of the South African side after being away on compassionate leave, he has led the team through an unbeaten phase during 2010, and that form carried through on the opening night of the historic 2010 World Cup, as they entertained the home crowds in Johannesburg. Now, with first night jitters out of the way, the serious business starts, as the teams have just two matches left each to try and earn a berth in the next round.

No host nation has ever failed to make it to the second round of a World Cup, and there is a certain sense of inevitability about that trend continuing. If you go back twelve or eighteen months, the chances of that happening will have been very slim, but now, somehow, they have played their way into contention. The only thing that is working now against South Africa, is that their final match will come against France. But, if the Bafana Bafana can pick up a win against Uruguay, then those Vuvuzela’s will be blowing even louder than normal. This match really is a must win now for both sides if they have realistic dreams of the second round, and that makes it a tough one to call. One thing South Africa showed, is that they can take a battering and still keep going. This has been the philosophy behind their long unbeaten run this year, while the football may not be technically brilliant, they can dig in defensively and scrap for all that they are worth. In fact, after succumbing to large amounts of Mexican pressure, the South African’s turned the game on its head in the second half. One noticeable weakness in the South African team though, was the lack of quality in midfield to hold the ball and distribute calmly.

Uruguay To Come Out Of Their Shell And Draw World Cup Bets

Uruguay also had to show their defensive side, and their ability to soak up pressure, as they were happy to sit back and let the French come on to them. As expected, after not being able to find a creative cutting edge, the French lost their shape in midfield and that allowed Uruguay to start launching some counter attacks. Uruguay’s Oscar Tabarez set his team out to be cautious and defensive, a little surprising to some, given the forward power that they have, but the necessity of not losing that opening match has been prevalent in most of the matches seen. It was a cautious approach that saw them earn themselves a point, largely down to some impressive defensive work. Yes, the French had the better players, but in many ways Uruguay showed what the French lack. A game plan, and a togetherness of team spirit. That is the strength which Uruguay will bring to the table again, as they look to gain any advantage they can in this tight group, knowing that their hardest game is already out of the way.

You should see more of Uruguay as an attacking force pressing forward, as they need to play to the strengths of lethal strike duo of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. Uruguay showed a lot of composure and weren’t panicked at all, although they did run out of steam a little bit at the end. What should just tip this match, is that Uruguay are much better at the back than South Africa are. The Mexicans proved that the South African midfield could be easily by-passed and that the back line is vulnerable to attack. All that Forlan needs is a whiff of a chance, and Uruguay could be out of sight. There should be some edgy moments at the start of the match, but as it settles down, you should see the control that Uruguay will be able to impose, pay dividends in the long run. Uruguay do not mess about in midfield, and break up play well with tough tackling, and it should, at this level of a tournament, be better than what South Africa can bring to the table. For more on this match click here.

Uruguay World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D1, L0
GF/GA: 0/0
Cards: Y2, R1
Most Shots: Diego Forlan, 5
Top Scorer: n/a
Shots/On Goal: 7/3
Fouls Committed: 13
Total Passes: 434
Pass Completion: 64%
Last 5 Form: WDWWD

South Africa World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D1, L0
GF/GA: 1/1
Cards: Y2, R0
Most Shots: Teko Modise, 5
Top Scorer: Siphiwe Tshabalala, 1
Shots/On Goal: 9/5
Fouls Committed: 17
Total Passes: 335
Pass Completion: 62%
Last 5 Form: DWWWD

Match Odds:
Uruguay to win: 6/4 at Bet365
Draw: 11/5 at Victor Chandler
South Africa to win: 23/10 at Totesport

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: This should be a close match again, as there should be a lot of tension around. Still, you have to fancy Uruguay to take slight advantage in this one, and therefore, backing them in the positive should be the safest way to go here. Uruguay +0.25 around 1/2 at Bet365 is pretty good value.

South Africa v Mexico Betting Preview: It is time for the big kick off at South Africa 2010. The moment where all of that effort put into qualification now needs to pay dividends on the World stage. The curtain raiser starts in Johannesburg between South Africa v  Mexico, and this presents the first chance to get your individual match betting down. There are 64 matches to enjoy throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and this, simply put, is the beginning of it all. What better way to get your World Cup betting under way than to land an impressive winner in the first match? Whichever online bookmaker you chose, then you will have more than enough chances to explore the sub markets of match betting, and get your World Cup betting rolling. Whether you are looking at live in-play betting for the first match of the 2010 World Cup, or whether you are simply wanting to explore things like score casts and first goal scorer options, the bets are right there waiting for you now. There is much speculation that in a reversal of planning, Nelson Mandela will be at the opening ceremony, and that should give the South Africa side a huge boost, or will it heap extra pressure upon them?

When you sit and look at the current form of South Africa, there seems to be an ever increasing chance of them keeping history going, by continuing the trend of every host nation getting into the second round. They are on a long unbeaten stretch of 12 games in 2010, and while the matches have not been against the highest class of opposition in the world, there have been significant improvements and signs that South Africa may cause more of a threat in Group A than was initially thought. Being the host nation and not playing any competitive football, all the Bafana Bafana have had to rely on, is international friendly matches. They have reaped a lot of drawn matches lately, showing that they have a bit of grit to scrap things out, even when out played on the day. In the long build up to the World Cup, South Africa have been on the fringes of any expected success, but since Carlos Parreira came back to lead the nation, brought in to increase their chances of giving the home supporters something to cheer about, they have slowly improved. Clearly they are not at a level where they can make any impact in the knockout stages, but for the sake of the tournament, fans will be hoping they scrape through to at least the second round.

Trouble is though, they are in a tougher group than the list of names may first appear. Their opening day opponents Mexico have shown in their build-up, that they are quite an exciting and dangerous side going forward. There are gaping holes at the back which will prevent the Mexicans going too deep into the competition, but they have been trekking all over Europe in their preparations, taking on the likes of England, Holland and Italy, who they managed to beat. Their preparations have been the most intense, and while they have been busy, the coach Javier Aguirre has been putting out different starting elevens, so the question of tiredness and burn out before the tournament starts should not come into play. Mexico will keep the ball better than South Africa, and play with a certain confidence and flair going forward, relying on the likes of Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos for striking power. Mexico have only taken four midfielders with them to the World Cup, which is a little strange, but it highlights the one area where they are weakest, and because of that, you can expect some good open, attacking play from Mexico.

Mexico played eight international friendly matches in their build up, winning five, drawing one and losing just two. South Africa played five warm up matches, winning four and losing just one also. Mexico will be favourites to come out of the first match with maximum points, but they could be in for a tougher afternoon than people may initially think. Mexico’s build up has not been totally ideal, as they went through three different coaches during qualification. One piece of history, is the strong record of the home nation winning their opening matches. In the history of the World Cup, the host nation have won 14 times on the opening day, and have lost just 5. That may influence World Cup betting strategies, as that extra factor of having the home fans behind you for the emotional opener probably does have some effect as a twelfth man. It’s time for some South Africa v Mexico betting stats.

Last 5 Matches
South Africa 1, Denmark 0
South Africa 5, Guatemala 0
South Africa 2, Colombia 1
South Africa 1, Bulgaria 1
South Africa 0, Korea DPR 0

Italy 1, Mexico 2
Mexico 5, Gambia 1
Netherlands 2, Mexico 1
England 3, Mexico 1
Mexico 1, Chile 0

Last 5 Match Goals
South Africa: 9 For, 2 Against
Mexico: 10 For, 7 Against

Last 10 Match Form
South Africa: LDDWDDDWWW
Mexico: WDDWWWLLWW

Recent Stats:
South Africa: P41, W12, D12, L17 with a 29.3 win percentage
Mexico: P48, W24, D10, L14 with a 50.0 win percentage

World Cup Stats
South Africa: P6, W1, D3, L2, GF8, GA11
Mexico: P45, W11, D12, L22, GF48, GA84

South Africa v Mexico Betting Odds
South Africa to win: 15/8 at SkyBet
Draw: 23/10 at BetFred
Mexico to win: 13/8 at Bet365

Asian Handicap betting tip:
One would expect Mexico to run out as winners, but it may not be as comprehensive a victory as one would imagine. The Mexicans have a leaky defence, and the South Africans have a habit of sneaking scrappy goals. In terms of looking at an Asian Handicap, you would expect Mexico to have more goals in them than South Africa, so a nice safe bet is Mexico 0 at 5/6 at Paddy Power. However, if you want to go a little better in terms of realistic value odds is Mexico -0.5 at 5/4 at Bet365.

2010 FIFA World Cup Betting Preview and Tips: How much does World Cup history play a part in what happens today? Can the annals of the World Cup influence where you lay your money on the Outright Winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup? In World Cup history, the general rule is that any team which is unfancied at the start of the tournament, will not make it past the semi finals. That is a prime example of how tough it is to win the World Cup, and even in tournaments past, the champions of Europe have not particularly fared too well when going to the world stage. European Champions Spain, this time around, are probably in a stronger position than ever before of the European Champions, and betting on Spain at the World Cup will continue to flourish. Here we take a look at some of the factors, which should be considered in betting strategies for the World Cup.

Title Retention
Usually the act of retaining a trophy or title comes into play, just because it is such a difficult thing to do. In the case of the 2010 World Cup, Italy are one of the two teams ever to have done it (Brazil of course being the other). Because of how hard it is to replicate success in a row, it may push Italy further out in the odds. That doesn’t mean they should be discounted completely, it just a matter of weighing up World Cup Stats. Is retaining a title harder than winning it for the first time?

Number of World Cup Winners
Eighteen World Cups and just seven winners. This stat alone is something which should send you running to nobody else than outright favourites, Spain. But of course, in order for there to be seven winners, it means that there has been a new name has appeared on the trophy six other times than the original winners, Brazil. So of course, it does happen, however rare in the grand scheme of the tournament. The strong Spaniards are seemingly in pole position to make this rare event happen again. Will Spain become the eighth nation to win the World Cup? They do have one major piece of World Cup history to overcome, as explained in the next section:

Continental Tired?
Home advantage really does count for something. In the history of the World Cup there has only been one winner who has triumphed outside of their home continent. That was five time winners Brazil, naturally, and factors such as extra home support, altitude and the prestige of being the home nation, does make a difference. Is that all set to change again, with the tournament being held on the African continent for the first time? The African teams participating in the World Cup don’t seem to have what it takes to win the tournament, and yes, Spain are favourites, but a European team has never won outside of Europe. Does the continental shift give an advantage to the strongest of the African sides, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana? It’s heading into the winter season in South Africa, and the cold climate could tip things in the favour of the European teams. But what of the hosts South Africa? Well they come under serious scrutiny in the next titbit of history.

Home Nation Pressure
The home nation has never failed to make it to the second round. So is this one good, outside World Cup bet to take notice of? This all falls on the shoulders of host nation South Africa to keep up appearances, and they are definite outsiders to do just that. The odds are long, as South Africa are out at 2/1 at Bet365 to Qualify from Group A which has France, Uruguay and Mexico. The Bafana Bafana clearly are not going to win the World Cup, but can they at least reach the second round from a group which is clearly not one of the strongest groups in the tournament. Will they be able to emulate what the unfancied South Korea did on their home turf a couple of World Cups ago, when they reached the semi finals?

Length of the Tournament
This is something which definitely gets overlooked when weighing up a World Cup bet. In order for a team to win the World Cup, there are seven matches which need to be negotiated safely. While an early slip up in the group stages can be covered up by other teams and their results, once teams hit the knockout stage of the second round, it is glory or bust. Invariably from that point on, there will be tough opposition, and endurance and consistent talent will come into play. This is why only the cream of the crop really do rise to the top on the World Stage. Think of how the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are able to push for the top of the Barclays Premier League year after year. Underdogs can pull off shock results, but can they pull off enough of them to win the tournament? Unlikely.

Current World Cup Outright Odds
Spain 4/1 at Skybet
Brazil 5/1 at Bet365
England 7/1 at Bwin
Argentina 15/2 at Sporting Bet

World Cup Betting Tips
Betting may not be the most exciting when trying to pick an outside winner. Spain and Brazil are favourites in World Cup betting for very good reason. The closest two to them in terms of World Cup Odds are England and Argentina. England are not excepted to have the quality in depth, especially if Wayne Rooney can’t play. As for Argentina, they have the talent, but look disorganised and struggled through qualification. The inexperience and perhaps irrationality of coach Maradona may put them at a disadvantage. The gulf between the top two and the rest of the competitors is clearly there to see at the online bookmakers. Proof of how hard it is to win the World Cup, and a hint perhaps where your World Cup betting should lie.

With no side from Europe having won the tournament outside of the continent, things could be edging towards Brazil. But fortunately your World Cup betting is not limited to just the Outright Winner Market. Over the month long tournament you can pick up on things like Live In-Play betting, Score casts, First Goalscorer, Group Winners, To Qualify and much, much more. Look out for World Cup Free Bet Promotions to further your enjoyment of betting on the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

There has been a major shake up in the world of South African cricket, ahead of their tour in India which starts on February 6th. Coach Mickey Arthur, who was never one to shy away from expressing his personal views, has stepped down from his position, and the board of selectors have also been cleared out. Selectors Mustapha Khan, Craig Matthews and the awesomely named Winky Ximiya have all made way from their position.

The Proteas, who salvaged a Test series draw against England on home turf, could be suffering from a case of political head butting, as Arthur cited too many differences between himself and Cricket South Africa. Apparantly all of this means that he could not take the team in the direction in which he wanted. Corrie van Zyl has stepped in an interim coach, and will lead the national side in their difficult tour in India. There had been many rumblings that Arthur and South African captain Graeme Smith simply did not get, on, but Arthur suggests otherwise, that simply he and the CSA didn’t weren’t heading in the same direction.

Arthur had been at the helm of South African cricket for five years, elevating them to the position of being the best team in the world. Apparently the list of results was not good enough the powers that be, and this caused conflict. South Africa failed to produce in any tournaments in 2009, and the most recent failure to punish England in the Test series, clearly didn’t help matters behind the scenes either. Their world status had appeared to have started to flatter to deceive. The tour in India now takes on extra precendence in which direction the future of South African cricket really takes.

India to win: Evens at Blue Square
Drawn Series: 9/4 at William Hill
South Africa: 3/1 at SkyBet

With so much cricket having been enjoyed this year, and plenty to enjoy at the moment, we take a look at some good cricket bets, which will hopefully guide you towards some profits. Again the cricketing world will be busy next year, and we look at some of the current action, as well as towards 2010.

1) South Africa vs. England Drawn Series
The Proteas are favourites to take the series, but with the inclement weather on show so far on the tour, taking the series to draw 7/2 at Bet365 is not a bad shout at all. Still, if you would rather get off the fence and back either the home nation or the visitors to win, consider placing the stake instead on a Draw No Bet. England are 3/1 at Bet365 for that option, while South Africa are 4/9 at William Hill. This a Test Match Series of four matches, not the usual five, so the chances of a drawn series are increased a little. Sports fans are always happier when a definitive result is produced, but if England can manage a draw, then they will be relatively happy with the tour, especially after surprisingly winning the One Day International Series.

2) Sri Lanka To Win Twenty20 World Cup.
They are joy to watch at Cricket, and have made steady progress towards the top of the World Rankings, and they still have a lot to prove in order to silence critics who think they are lacking a little something when it comes to major tournaments. They are however, one of the most complete teams in terms of all-round skill, along with Pakistan. The Twenty20 World Cup takes place next April in the West Indies, and Sri Lanka should be a major factor in the tournament with players like Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Mendis, Muralitharan and Malinga, in their current series against India, they are proving they have good depth coming through the ranks too. A force to be reckoned with. Early prices has them at 5/1 at Ladbrokes to win the Twenty20 World Cup in 2010.

3) Durham To Win County Championship.
Winners of the County Championship Division One title, by some stretch, will start next season’s campaign as favourite. Currently providing Paul Colllingwood and Graham Onions to England, Durham look set to continue their reign, but will probably be most closely challenged by Nottinghamshire. With Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad on their books, Nottingham also have some good international experience to call upon, not that the England players get to enjoy much county cricket. But Durham got the better of the encounter with Nottingham last season, and will be hoping to build upon that success. Early days yet until the season starts, but a good time nonetheless to get an early punt on them, even if it just each way. Durham are currently 2/1 at Boylesports to retain their title.

4) New South Wales To Win Sheffield Shield.
As most England cricket fans won’t really pay too much attention to the domestic cricket scene down under, their domestic levels are nothing short of fantastic. As a sporting nation, Australia often puts England to shame, and the wealth of top class cricketers they produce, all stem from a great domestic setup, from the youth stages to the organisation of their top flight leagues and tournaments. Everything is done to condition and promote the development of players, and it is what keeps Australia on top of the cricketing world. New South Wales won the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League earlier this year, and have some famous international names on their books, such as Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Muralitharan, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin, Nathan Brackan, Nathan Hauritz and Nathan Bracken. They are a good solid side and a really good price to win the Sheffield Shield, which is a round-robin league format of First Class cricket (which is the 4 day format). They will likely need to overcome the stronger team of the Victorian Bushrangers, but they stand in good stead. They are 36/5 at BetFair to win the Sheffield Shield.

5) Sri Lanka to Beat India.
Yes, again, but this time some current action. They are currently involved in a five game One Day International series against India, with the score level at 1-1. Both games have been incredibly tight, dramatic and some of the most entertaining cricket seen all year. Hopefully that will continue throughout the series. A great price at the moment for Sri Lanka to nick the series, is 6/5 at Coral. There really is not much to chose between the two teams at the moment, and while India do have home advantage in front of some of the most passionate cricket fans in the world, Sri Lanka are more than happy to roll up and play party poopers. India had the upper hand in the Test Match series between them, but Sri Lanka’s dynamic and enviable batting power will come into play more in the ODI’s.