South Africa vs British & Irish Lions
7th August 1700hrs
Rugby – South Africa – Lions Tour
Pick South Africa To Win
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 4/6 odds taken 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021
Have the British & Irish Lions lost their grip on this Tour? The tourists were beaten convincingly in the Second Test a week ago.
That saw South Africa level the series.
Now, with the hosts having that wind in their sails, they are the match favourites in rugby betting for the first time in this series.
The Lions have to find a way to respond, have to find a way to blend creativity with power and pragmatism.
Table of Contents
South Africa Preview – Boks now with the big advantage?
The Springboks got themselves level in the Series with a 27-9 win over the British & Irish Lions in the second test.
They pulled away convincingly after the half time break, having trailed by three points at that point.
So that sets up a high-pressure decider now. Basically for South Africa, they will want more of the same.
In the match outright for rugby betting, the win for South Africa is at a quote of 4/6* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
That is the first time in this series that they have been the favourites in match betting.
But that signifies that all of the momentum is now with them.
Their powerful and direct approach, barely letting the Lions make any headway in any department.
To be fair, the Second Test was really poor. There wasn’t a lot of rugby being played in a stop-start, forwards-dominated match.
It was basically all pack-power and kicking that South Africa relied on and it was enough.
Since winning the 2019 World Cup against England, South Africa had played just one full test before kicking off this series.
They were undone in the first match of this series 22-1. It is unlikely that they are going to change their playing style after success in the second.
But interestingly it will have made the Lions take a different approach.
Whichever way you look at this match for rugby betting, it looks like being close.
That’s reflected in the rugby betting handicap market.
A South Africa -1.5 option is at 4/6* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
Will the hosts grind out the success?
British & Irish Lions Preview – Can the Tourists find a way?
This is now a cup final sort of situation. It all boils down to the 80 minutes on Saturday to settle the series.
Naturally, on the back of a disappointing display in the second test, Lions head coach Warren Gatland has made big changes.
The tourists lacked any kind of creativity last weekend. They never gave their backs a chance to do anything in the fixture.
Gatland has been looking for more.
Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Bundee Aki, Josh Adams, Liam Williams and scrum-half Ali Price all get a start on Saturday.
The Lions couldn’t deal with the physical pressure that was put on them in the second half of last weekend’s game.
That was a sizable setback. Especially as the Tourists were always perceived to be the fitter and the stronger of the two sides in the second half of matches.
In the match outright for rugby betting in this decider, the Lions are 11/8 to win* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
British & Irish Lions have to play the ball quicker and get out of set pieces far more quickly.
Pace could be the key to getting through this big, powerful South Africa unit.
If the game is more open, has more of a flow to last weekend’s dirge, then that will only benefit the tourists.
But that’s not guaranteed to happen. It’s not the way South Africa are going to want the game to go.
A Lions +3 handicap is at a quote of 5/6 for rugby betting* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
Last weekend’s defeat for the Lions is only the second they have suffered on this entire tour.
They bounced back well after their previous setback against South Africa A. Can they now do it when it matters the most?
South Africa vs British & Irish Lions Betting Advice
Will the personnel changes for the British & Irish Lions produce the desired effect on Saturday?
The tourists have to play a far quicker game. This is not beyond their scope but it’s just not going to be easy to pull off.
The Springboks will have the bit between their teeth now and are likely to edge this contest, so the South Africa win at 4/6 gets the nod* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
Key Facts – South Africa vs British & Irish Lions Betting Tip
- South Africa won the Second Test 27-9
- South Africa have now played just three Test since winning the 2019 World Cup
- British & Irish Lions won the First Test 22-17
The hosts are without scrum-half Faf de Klerk through injury which is a huge blow for them. Player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit is also out.
However, while that’s normally a setback, you can only think that it will make the Springboks shut up shop a little bit more.
They have the power and quality up front to once again slow this down and grind it out. It is going to be very difficult now for the Lions.
South Africa 1-7 winning margin at 2/1 is our rugby betting tip* (odds recorded 20:03 GMT on August 5th, 2021).
The best betting odds for South Africa vs British & Irish Lions
South Africa to win: 4/6 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
British & Irish Lions to win: 11/8 at Bet365
