Scotland (1/100) v
Romania (100) – KO 2:00 AM
Andy Robinson has named a strong and experienced Scotland squad
for their World Cup opener and he can be rewarded for that with a comfortable
victory over Romania on Saturday morning.
Chris Paterson will join the illustrious list of players to
have appeared in four World Cups after being named at fullback while Ross Ford
gets his 50th test appearance for his country. It’s a surprise to
see Ruaridh Jackson gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Dan Parks, but Joe Ansbro
– Scorer of the try that beat Ireland at Murrayfield in the warm up – is a
reassuring presence.
Romania are able to call upon eight members of the side
which faced the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup in France but they’re still on
the wane and shouldn’t be troubling Scotland in the slightest, who will want to
get going quickly before they take on the big guns in Arengtina and England
with wins here and against Georgia.
Scotland have actually won their last three tests so the potential
to get on a roll is evident, while notable scalps in the past 2 years include South
Africa and Australia, so they have the potential to beat anyone on their day.
Exactly how this related to today’s match doesn’t matter but
Scotland landed 42 unanswered points against Romania in 2007 and anything remotely
different would be worrying for Andy Robinson’s side.
Advice: 2 pts Scotland -33 (evs Sportingbet)
Fiji (1/41) v Namibia
(25) – KO 4:30 AM
After getting through thanks a 38 – 34 thriller against
Wales in France, Fiji will fancy their chances of making the Quarter Finals again
despite being in the Pool of death and they can start with a romp against Namibia.
Starting against the minnows couldn’t have come at a better
time for Fiji - diplomatic row, illness
and a string of poor results have all overshadowed preparations for Fiji, who
are now sitting on their worst ever world ranking of 15th - and a good rout of the 20th
ranked side in the world seems like the perfect way to forget those problems
and run riot.
Special mention goes to Jacques Burger, who will skipper
them in New Zealand - the Saracens openside is one of the few full
professionals within their squad – and therein lies the problem when Nambia
come up against decent sides – And at their best, Fiji are more than just a
decent side.
While they should cover the handicap with ease, the half
time handicap makes even more appeal – Only one in 12 World Cup matches have Namibia
recorded 10 points at half time and despite gradual improvement it’s hard not
to imagine Fiji having opened up a lead of 14 points or more by the break.
Advice: 3 pts Fiji -13 on Half Time Handicap (11/10 Paddy
Power)
France (1/150) v
Japan (66/1) – KO 7:00 AM
All eyes on the tournament tips
and entertainers France as they start their campaign against steady improvers
Japan, who have risen from 19th to 13th in the IRB
Rankings since the last World Cup In 2007.
History says that this should be
a walkover for France – Japan have only one win to their name in World Cup
history - against Zimbabwe in 1991 along with a draw against Canada in 2007 – but
Japan are slowly improving all the time and already have the Asian Five Nations
(albeit a very weak tournament which can turn into nothing but a walkover) and
the Pacific Nations Cup tied up this year.
Coach John Kirwan has made them
not only a solid team to play against, but also a team that can run the ball at
pace and come wide, which spells danger in part for France. As my tournament picks,
I expect France to win against Japan and most likely with something to spare
but a 45 point handicap doesn’t make a huge amount of appeal against a side who
can cause problems.
In their last meeting between these
two – Which I can use as a formguide with confidence given that the Japanese
will only have improved and the French in my eyes are as good as ever – Japan managed
to get to the break at 20-16, which would make a first half handicap of 24 points
tricky for the French to overcome. Some will be surprised I’ve opposed them in
any way but it makes sense giving their scoring patterns – In three of their
last 5 the second half has seen the most points (which is also worth backing at
4/5 with Skybet) and in the previous meeting between the two the French pulled
away at the break with ease, bettering their first half total by 31 – While Japan
put on just 13 more points to their total.
Advice: 1 pt Japan +24 on Half
Time Handicap (4/5 Betfred), 1 pt Most Points in Second Half (4/5 Skybet)
Argentina (6) v
England (1/5) – KO 9:30 AM
England bring some of their best form to a World Cup for
some time and will aim to do nothing but win their first match against hard
hitters and 2007 stars Argentina, who haven’t reached the same heights since
despite being put into the Tri Nations.
Much of the squad which lit up France 4 years ago aren’t here
– Only 10 of the 30 remain – While Juan Martin Hernandez misses out with
injury, a crucial blow for the Pumas. Captain Felipe Contepomi is the star turn
of a side packed with physicality – But one that has an average of no more than
15 points a game against top level sides since 2007 and might come in a bit
undercooked, having only played Wales and English Premiership side Worcester as
preparation.
While England look like the much better team a big winning
margin may not be the case with the game likely to be a grind, while three of
England’s 6 Nations wins came by 1 – 10 points – Take the 12/5 Sportingbet
offer about the same outcome here.
Advice: 1 pt England by 1-10 points (12/5 Sportingbet)
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