South Africa vs British & Irish Lions Rugby Betting Tip Lions 1-10 Winning Margin – 24th July 2021

Lions can open the Series against South Africa with a narrow win

Conor Murray / British & Irish Lions ©IMAGO / Inpho Photography 22.07.2021

South Africa South Africa vs British & Irish Lions United Kingdom
24th July 1700hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Lions 1-10 Winning Margin
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 9/5 odds taken 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021

It has arrived. The opening Test of this three-match series between South Africa and the British & Irish Lions kicks off on Saturday.

This is a mouthwatering clash as the tourists try to get the better of the reigning World Champions.

Will the Lions pull it together to get off the mark? They go into the First Test of this series as the narrow favourites.

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South Africa Preview – Will the Boks hold out?

With home advantage, albeit behind closed doors, South Africa have reasons to be confident here.

South Africa A claimed a victory over the British & Irish Lions earlier this month. It was a very strong team that they sent out.

They looked to have an advantage in the physical department which is a big part of their approach.

It was something that British & Irish Lions couldn’t match up with.

South Africa are 11/10 underdogs for the First Test in rugby betting* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

The one concern for them is that they did tire a little towards the end of the match.

That’s understandable as since Winning the World Cup in late 2019, the Springboks have played only one Test.

That was against Georgia as part of these warm-ups. It was a 40-9 victory that the Boks look.

A South Africa A team rounded off their warm-ups with a defeat against club side Bulls 17-14.

South Africa sent out a fringe team for that effort, however.

But it still raises questions about their overall fitness and ability to last a highly competitive 80 minutes on Saturday.

Our betting prediction:
Lions To Win 2nd Half
5/6

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* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021)

 

A South Africa +1.5 handicap is at a quote of 4/6 in rugby betting on the weekend* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

The Springboks look talented up front, especially across the front row.

Then they have Faf de Klerk running the show from scrum-half and the Lions face a big challenge in slowing him down.

The formidable pace and power of Cheslin Kolbe is a threat on the wings as well.

It is a five-match winning streak that South Africa are on in Test match rugby, but again, there has been so little top-level recent action for them.

They didn’t play in last year’s Rugby Championship.

The last time that South Africa hosted The British & Irish Lions was in 2009, the Boks winning the Series 2-1.

 

British & Irish Lions Preview – A chance for the Lions

However we look at, it is expected to be a tight duel on Saturday to gain an advantage in this opening series.

The British & Irish Lions are a quote of 5/6 odds-on to claim the match win* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

It hasn’t been a decent warm-up for the Lions ahead of this team.

The only slip up that they have had along the way was their defeat against South Africa A.

The side that was sent out by head coach Warren Gatland won’t be the same one that starts on the weekend.

Gatland will likely have been figuring out a way to combat the physicality that South Africa have.

Plus, discipline is going to be massively key for them as they have to keep that penalty count down to keep some pressure off.

But perhaps the way forward for the Lions here is to deal with the physical side of things, but have a separate plan to wear down the Springboks for the second half of the game.

That’s when the tourists should make things count. The Lions to win the second half is at 5/6* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

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British & Irish Lions -1 handicap is at a quote of even money for this fixture* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

Particularly through the early stages, this is likely to be a war of attrition to start with.

If the Lions can weather any early storm the greater their chances of pulling out the win are going to be.

The Lions have been boosted by the return of captain Alun Wyn Jones and they have forward Luke Cowan-Dickie in superb form.

In the anytime goalscorer market, Cowan-Dickie is a quote of 7/2 to touch down* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

 

South Africa vs British & Irish Lions Betting Advice

South Africa clearly have their game-changers, particularly with Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe and Willie le Roux.

The Springboks are probably going to face a tougher 80 minutes than they did against the Lions in that unofficial “4th Test” which their A-side won.

A strong start is expected from them and South Africa to score first is at a quote of 4/6* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

 

Key Facts – South Africa vs British & Irish Lions Betting Tip

  • South Africa have won their last 5 Test
  • South Africa have only played one Test since winning the 2019 World Cup
  • British & Irish Lions lost their last Tour of South Africa 201

 

However, the Lions do look more likely to pull through at the end of the day. That could be down the bench.

The Tourists have strong options off the bench up front to come on in the second half to impact the game.

This just looks to be a tight contest and a Lions 1-10 winning margin is at 9/5* (odds recorded 17:55 GMT on July 21st, 2021).

 

The best betting odds for South Africa vs British & Irish Lions

South Africa to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
British & Irish Lions to win: 5/6 at Bet365