RUGBY WORLD CUP SEMI FINALS
After a month of exhilarating rugby action there are only four nations remaining and spread bettors can look forward to another pulsating weekend when Wales take on France and New Zealand meet Australia. Those spread punters that bought the All Blacks’ outright index at the start of the competition will be delighted the side remain on course to lift their first Webb Ellis trophy since the inaugural 1987 tournament.
The opening semi-final sees England’s conquerors, France, go up against Wales and spread sellers of the match supremacy will have been delighted with Les Bleus’ last eight performance. Spread buyers of France’s win index will be hoping that the side can reach the third Rugby World Cup final in their history and a first since 1999 in Wales.
Marc Lievremont’s side failed to score a single try in their semi-final against England four years ago and buyers of their win index will be banking on a much improved performance in Auckland.
When these two sides meet on Saturday it will be for the 89th time and Wales’ spread supporters will be happy to hear they edge the head-to-head record by 43 wins to 42 – with three draws. However, buyers of Wales’ win index will be concerned to hear that the side have lost their past three meetings with Les Bleus. In the most recent game in March, France ran out 28-9 winners and total try buyers might be aware that Wales failed to score a try in the game.
The two Wales defeats in 2010 and 2009 were by a far closer margin, which will be of interest to those spread enthusiasts addressing the match supremacy. The 2010 and 2009 losses were by six and five points respectively.
New Zealand then take on Australia and buyers of the host’s win index will be hopeful of the side avoiding a third defeat in four meetings with the Wallabies. The All Blacks have only lost to the Wallabies on 47 occasions during their 166 contests – with 114 victories in their favour. Match supremacy punters might like to know that there have been only five draws between the two nations since their first meeting in 1903.
Total point buyers will be pleased to find that Graham Henry’s side are the leading scorers in the competition with 273 points – at an average of 55 points per match. The All Blacks are also the leading try scorers with 38, which will spark debate amongst spread bettors looking at the total tries market for Sunday.
Those spread bettors interested in the bookings index will be intrigued to find that neither Australia nor New Zealand has been shown a yellow card in their opening five fixtures. Spread sellers of the bookings index will take further encouragement that there have been no sin-bins in the All Blacks’ last five meetings with Australia.
Any punters that are considering a buy of the bookings index will be hoping for a repeat of the 2010 match in Melbourne, where each side had a player sin-binned and the Aussies also had Drew Mitchell sent off for a second yellow card.
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