Internationals this Weekend
19th November, 2008
This weekend we witness a barrage of international rugby, with the Final of the Rugby League World Cup, and 6 international games where the northern hemisphere looks to dominate our southern hemisphere counterparts.
Rugby League
Australia are favorites to retain the World Championship title against New Zealand this Saturday in Brisbane. The champions could make the tournament a fantastic one if they were to beat New Zealand again, making it an undefeated World Cup campaign for themselves.
Rugby Union
Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France all play hosts to The Pacific Islanders, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and Australia respectively. But the game on many English fans minds are whether or not Martin Johnson’s men will make amends for last week’s performance.
Unfortunately for the world cup hero, Martin Johnson had to watch from the box as Australia handed out large slices of humble pie to all who had reminded them of their humiliation in Marseille last October and their toasting at Twickenham in 2005.
Will this weekend see England overturn the World Champions who have not preformed to the letter in past weeks against Wales and Scotland with only narrow victories?
The two teams last met in the World Cup Final in November where inevitable victors South Africa peak to lift the Web Ellis Cup for the Second time.
England know that if they are to make forward steps and beat South Africa, they will have to get the basics right. The new look, young pace filled backs new ball going forward. Rucking, forwards carrying and scrimmaging in particular will need to improve in order to compete up front with South Africa’s meaty pack.
The odds for this weekend run with current form, the southern hemisphere teams are favorites to teach the northern hemisphere a less
Saturday 22 November 2008
- Italy v Pacific Islands (14:00GMT) (H) 2/5 (D) 21/1 (A) 43/25 Bet Chronicle
- England v South Africa (14:30GMT) (H) 4/5 (D) 20/1 (A) 1/1 Paddy Power
- Ireland v Argentina (14:45GMT) (H) 1/2 (D) 20/1 (A) 13/8 Bet 365
- Scotland v Canada (14:45GMT) (H) 3/100 (D) 64/1 (A) 25/1 Bet Fair
- Wales v New Zealand (17:15GMT) (H) 11/2 (D) 33/1 (A) 1/9 Bet 365
- France v Australia (20:00GMT) (H) 6/5 (D) 18/1 (A) 4/6 Bet 365
While for the World Cup Final the odds are 1/10 Austraila and 11/2 New Zealand with Bet 365
By Rommon
