South Africa v England Rugby Winner Odds 16th June 2018 – 4:05 p.m.
It is round two of South Africa v England rugby betting and hopefully, the Second Test will be as big of a thrill-ride as the first one was. England suffered a first test defeat losing 42-32 after having raced ahead to a 24-3 advantage early on. The Red Rose powered in three quick tries to rattle the hosts, but still it wasn’t enough to stop England trailing by two points at halftime though.
England produced one of their better displays of the year and they were clinical and powerful in all departments early on. But they couldn’t hold out against the Springboks who are in something of a transition as they are looking to play a far more expansive running game than the dirge of power that they have been plodding along with in recent years.
The first half was high octane and one of the best 40 minutes of rugby that has been seen for a long time. The second was just all about the defences of the two, England visibly tiring in the second half, perhaps the altitude coming into play. But the win evaded them and they are still going to be concerned about the number of individual errors that are in their game and have been plaguing them this year.
Changes coming
England will shuffle the pack for the Second Test with Chris Robshaw going to the bench and New Zealand-born Brad Shields coming into make his first start for England. They have also received news that Joe Launchbury is back fit and ready to go after missing the first test because of a calf injury. Danny Cipriani comes onto the bench. The First Test was a tough opener at Ellis Park and it will be interesting to see now how England settle down and try and get at the Springboks.
They know that they have to the pace to do so, but in defence, they are going to have to be sharper and cut down errors. The Boks are looking to play a more open game and that does suit England from an attacking perspective because of counter-attacking space, and so there is a high potential for another high scoring game coming. For South Africa v England predictions an England +4 handicap option at Boylesports is at even money* (betting odds taken on June 16th, 2018 at 9:19 p.m.) and appeals.
South Africa v England Rugby odds*
South Africa 8/13
England 11/8
Draw 20/1
* (betting odds taken on June 16th, 2018 at 9:19 p.m.)
Head to head form
In the last decade, there have now been nine games contested between England and South Africa. From that, England are trailing badly with just a W1 D1 L7 record against the Springboks. England’s last win over the Springboks happened in November 2016 but there is a trend of tight games between them. Seven of the last nine meetings between the two nations have been settled by a margin of 10 points or fewer and five of the last seven have been settled by a margin of more than five points.
South Africa v England Predictions
Our South Africa v England predictions have to call another tight game between them and we like the England +4 handicap option. England looked better than they have done all year in that First Test and remember that was at a tough altitude which forced them onto the back foot (in part) in the second half. But the gaps were there for England and nearly got themselves back into it at the end of the first match. Back them to get a win this time around and aren’t bad value at that 11/8 odds outright* (betting odds taken on June 16th, 2018 at 9:19 p.m.).
