Rugby League Betting – Gillette Four Nations

Aussies to show their superiority in England

Rugby
Rugby © GEPA pictures

Australia may have come up short against New Zealand in the 15-man version of the game but the Kangaroos are hot favourites to win the upcoming Gillette Four Nations (7/15 with bwin) having trounced world champions the Kiwis in their final warm-up match at the Ausgrud Stadium. To be fair New Zealand, who can be backed at 7/2 with Skybet and Ladbrokes, were without most of their first-choice starting XIII but they are unlikely to have all of their reinforcements in place by the time they kick-off the tournament against the Aussies at Warrington at the end of this month and an early heavy defeat would be detrimental to their chance of progressing to the final. It probably should be noted that the Kiwis don’t have a great overall record on British soil. They failed to qualify for the final of this tournament in 2009, beating only the hapless French, who aren’t competing this year having lost out to much-improved Wales in the European Cup last year.

Wales (a general 250/1) are unsurprisingly massive underdogs for the Four Nations as probably only Warrington‘s Lee Briers can be described as world-class. Bradford Bulls front-rower Craig Kopczak will have to get through plenty of work but the remainder of the Welsh squad has an awful lot to prove at international level and are likely to be on the end of some real hammerings.

Australia won the 2009 Four Nations in England without losing a match, though they were held to a draw by New Zealand in the group games. The tournament will be the swansong of the legendary Darren Lockyer and he’ll be deternmined to end his career on a high. Alongside Johnathon Thurston, the Aussies have the best half-back pairing in world rugby and now that Fijian Akuila Uate has switched his allegiance to the gold and green, it’s difficult to see how the Aussie backs can be halted as a big pack will again provide a solid platform.

England, of course, have home advantage but Steve McNamara is still developing his squad and may use this tournament to weigh up his possibilities in key areas. The hosts also have a few injury problems so Wigan‘s classy young full-back  Sam Tomkins may be given an opportunity further forward, possibly alongside the exciting Rangi Chase. England’s clash with the Kiwis at the KC Stadium in the final round of first-stage matches will almost certainly decide who faces the Aussies in the final at Elland Road and England are a best 39/5 on betfair to win the Four Nations. As in 2009, a place in the final isn’t beyond Jamie Peacock and his team but the Kangaroos will surely triumph again.