Bledisloe Cup Preview – Saturday, 17th August at 8.35 am
After a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, New Zealand who are the reigning world champions have some pressure on them. They suffered a record defeat against Australia last weekend in the first of this year’s Bledisloe cup meetings. Will they be able to gain some revenge over the Wallabies as they head back to potentially enjoy some home comforts?
New Zealand v Australia Odds*
New Zealand 3/20
Australia 9/2
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on August 13th, 2019 at 11:33 pm)
Can the wounded New Zealand strike back?
New Zealand are the reigning world champions. So they have a very big year in trying to defend their crown. The preparations have not been great as they have lost their grip on the Rugby Championship. The All Blacks looked in trouble in the opening fixture of the tournament as they struggled to defend the lead against a very committed Argentina in Buenos Aires.
They then had an opportunity slip through their fingers for a win, when they allowed South Africa to score a converted try in the final minute of their second fixture in this year’s tournament. Given that this was the first action of 2019 for New Zealand, some of was being written off to things like selection issues and being a bit ring rusty. But few would have predicted the collapse that the All Blacks had in their third and final match of the tournament.
Kiwis stunned by Australia
The All Blacks went to Perth to take on old rivals Australia and the All Blacks limped home after a 47-26 defeat. There was a record amount of points that New Zealand have ever conceded against the Wallabies in a single fixture. It equalled their biggest ever margin of defeat too (also against Australia). There were extenuating circumstances though, with Scott Barrett getting sent off just before the half time break.
Now the question is what response do the All Blacks have as a play the second of this year’s Bledisloe cup fixtures? The bookmakers think the response is coming back on home soil. A New Zealand -14 handicap is a 10/11 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on August 13th, 2019 at 11:33 pm)
Can Australia double up?
Make no mistake about Australia are not anywhere near the great green and gold sides that the country has produced. They had one of their worst ever years on record during 2018 in terms of results. Their Rugby Championship 2019 campaign started with a bruising defeat away at South Africa. But they did get it together a little bit better as they produced a 16-10 victory over Argentina in their second match.
But there was not enough in either of those performances to suggest that they were going to go and run up such a record score against the All Blacks. Australia’s win last weekend was the second in the last five meetings with New Zealand in Bledisloe cup matches. Last year they went to Auckland and suffered a 40-12 loss at Eden Park.
Australia have won just two of the last 12 fixtures against New Zealand. They have not won at Eden Park in the last decade, losing all seven appearances there during that time frame. Australia’s confidence has to be sky-high though, so can they pull off what would be a famous double over the All Blacks?
New Zealand v Australia Predictions
The Kiwis were rocked last weekend, make no mistake about it. They were out on their feet in the second half of the match. Australia really turned up to play and the Wallabies played like a team who had nothing to lose. Still, it is New Zealand at Eden Park. That generally means a home win is coming. The All Blacks have something to prove. Back the wounded beast to come up with the goods.
