Quarter Finals Preview

Saturday, 8 October 2011

Ireland v Wales, 06:00
An incredibly tight match to call, with Ireland the marginal 5/6 (Stan James) favourites because they won their group, whereas Wales lost a game they should have won against South Africa. In their last meeting in the Six Nations, Wales triumphed 19-13 at the Millennium Stadium, they are 11/8 (Ladbrokes) to win again. Brian O’Driscoll scored in that game, his fifth try in twelve matches against Wales. He is 4/1 (Ladbrokes) to score a try anytime during the match.

England v France, 08:30
Two teams that have stuttered through the group stages meet yet again at a Rugby World Cup. England have knocked out France in the last two editions and are 6/10 (Stan James) to complete the hat-trick.  After humiliating defeats to both Italy and Tonga in the last 12 months, Les Bleus are red faced but only 15/8 with William Hill to win the game.  Tom Palmer is perhaps a surprise selection, but after a man of the match performance against France in the Six Nations, he is 33/1 (Paddy Power) to repeat the trick.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

South Africa v Australia, 06:00
Another exceptionally close match. Australia are slight favourites at evens (Stan James), with South Africa 6/5 (Skybet). With the teams almost impossible to split expect to see supporters of the draw at 22/1 (Paddy Power). They have history having been forced into extra time during the 1999 World Cup semi-final. Expect South Africa to keep the ball amongst the forwards and grind the Wallabies into submission. It might not be pretty but 25/1 (Skybet) on no try scorer during the match isn’t out of the question.

New Zealand v Argentina, 08:30
The All Blacks have never lost to Argentina and at 1/50 (Paddy Power) the bookmakers don’t expect it to happen in a World Cup. At 22/1 (Bet365) Argentina would need to cause the biggest upset in perhaps the tournament’s history. On average the All Blacks beat the Pumas by 45 points, they are evens (Paddy Power) to surpass the spread of 27 points.