3 minute read

​​​​​​​Join us as we look ahead to the upcoming Rugby World Cup pool matches and share the best bets for the weekend’s action.

This weekend's Rugby World Cup matches seem to be do-or-die games that will likely be won by the team that needs the win the most.

New Zealand vs Italy | Pick: New Zealand

Argentina vs Chile | Pick: Argentina

Fiji vs Georgia | Pick: Fiji

Scotland vs Romania | Pick: Scotland

Australia vs Portugal | Pick: Australia

South Africa vs Tonga | Pick: South Africa

New Zealand have predictably named a strong team for a must-win match that they are expected to take comfortably and there are several great candidates for the first try.

Try-machine Will Jordan is usually the safe option for the first try but New Zealand will want their pack operating in peak condition and we could see hooker Codie Taylor go over at the tail of a maul.

Italy are long and getting longer for the win as kick off approaches.

However, Italy have shown enough attacking quality to suggest they might just be able to sneak the first points against the All Blacks.

Argentina need to make sure to bag a full house of points from their clash with Chile and could run up the score.

The option for an Argentina win by 41 - 50 points inclusive offers enticing value and could well be the margin the Pumas take this clash by in the end.

An Argentina loss really is a long shot here, given Chile are appearing in their first World Cup and have never beaten a tier one nation.

Nicolas Sanchez will be kicking the goals for Argentina and will be set for a huge points haul.

Fiji have one foot in the last eight after their win over Australia but would open the door for the Wallabies to avoid early elimination if they can't beat Georgia.

That pressure might make Georgia an enticing prospect but this Fiji team is well drilled and focused on the task at hand.

Fiji look good to win by bewteen 11 and 20 points against a Georgia team that haven't quite delivered on pre-tournament promise.

Waisea Nayacalevu is the natural leader of this backline from No 13 and could be the man to lift the team with the first try of the contest.

Scotland also need to beat Romania and secure a bonus point to keep the heat on South Africa.

Romania haven't shown anything to suggest that they could match Scotland and this could be another big defeat for the Oaks.

Scotland will name a strong lineup with the result of this match set to influence their position in the final round.

Scotland are likely to win this one by 65 or more points.

Australia should take out their frustrations on Portugal even if Eddie Jones is now favourite to be the first Rugby World Cup coach to get sacked.

Goal-kicker Ben Donaldson has been among Australia's better players and he could be rewarded with points aplenty against Portugal.

Portugal have been better than many expected but even this Australian team looks unlikely to slump so far as to go down to the minnows.

Australia look good for a points total north of 50 but probably not more than 65.

South Africa will have to rely on the result of Ireland's showdown with Scotland to finalise their position in the last eight but they can assume the top spot in the group with a bonus point win.

However, they can put themselves on the cusp of qualification if they win and score four tries which would leave them vulnerable only to a situation where there is a three-way tie for top of the Pool which would then throw it over to points difference.

That situation would require Scotland to also beat Ireland and secure a bonus point. Ireland would need to get just one losing bonus point to force the required three-way tie.

If South Africa beat Tonga with a bonus point they will ensure they are out of reach of Scotland because of the Springboks 18-3 head-to-head win over the Scots.

The Springboks should be good for a 30-40 point win over this Tonga team, who have struggled at the set piece.