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Thursday
3rd July
International Tests always are a little tricky to predict but even the
most ardent Azzurri fan would have had trouble predicting the boilover in
Cordoba on Saturday evening as Italy snatched a last gasp 13-12 victory
over Argentina.
The first game in which The Wallabies
unconvincingly beat France 34-13 was a little more predictable. Betting
was very slow over the weekend as punters were not keen to take the 18½
points on offer either the Wallabies or France and the 1.06 to win was
treated like poison. Betting on the second international was a little more
active as we gave 1.16 and 13½ Argentina while Italy was 4.50 and
receiving the start. Our first wager was $3,000 from a local client on
Italy at the points followed by a further 2,000 from a client from the UK.
We were happy to stand the home side so we moved the points to 12½ and
shortened the price into 4.25 which completely stifled the betting. No
more business meant that the result proved to be a poor one, especially
after the first game was a non event.
Things get a little more serious this
week with the start of the Tri Nations series. New Zealand host South
Africa at Westpac Stadium in Wellington in what may prove to be the
decider when looking at the draw. The Boks must play in New Zealand twice
in a row before heading to Perth to take on the Wallabies the following
week. They then have a week off before hosting the All Blacks then the
Wallabies twice at home, so a win this week could give them four wins
which may be enough.
The Boks have also come down under with
their strongest possible squad and although De Villiers has yet to
assemble that team on the park at the one time he still has the arsenal at
his disposal. The All Blacks on the other hand have Captain Richie McCaw
out for a another couple of weeks and are further weekend by the loss of
Brendan Leonard and Richard Kahui. Take into account that you have Rodney
So�oialo playing openside flanker and you have an All Black squad of a
different stroke. Luckily Dan Carter is there to steer the ship and their
tight five is as strong as ever, but if the Boks wish to break an 11 year
drought on New Zealand soil they will have no better time than this.
Betting opened with the All Blacks 1.50
and conceding 5½ points and the Boks 2.60. Our first wager was $5,000 on
the All Blacks conceding the start from a fellow competitor and that was
backed up by a further $4,000 fro a Sydney client. The All Blacks have now
firmed into 1.48 and a flat 6 points and if the money is any indicator
that will be shorter by kick off. If that is the case I'd wait until the
11th hour as a punter and get the best start available the Springboks as I
have no doubt they are as well prepared for this Tri Nations as they have
any in the past.
Also on Saturday night the Wallabies host
a second string team from France in Brisbane for their final lead up to
their Tri Nations campaign. The Wallabies are 1.06 with France at 9.00 and
the handicap is 21½. This is still a tough one to pick as France have made
nine changes to the side which was beaten last week while the Wallabies
have made a few positional changes which includes the loss of Wycliff Palu.
The Wallabies should be too good but they were not impressive enough for
me last week to put my hard earned on' lack of business seems to indicate
that punters feel the same. |
