Betting preview: November Internationals, Week Three

Editor

Ahead of the third weekend of 2018’s November internationals, we take a look at the best bets from two games taking place on Saturday.

It is a stacked weekend of action but we have gone for Ireland v New Zealand and Scotland v South Africa, while also giving a rundown of the best of the rest, so without further ado, here’s our punts.

Ireland v New Zealand

The game of the November campaign takes place on Saturday as Ireland look to claim just a second ever victory over the world champions. Following their heroics in Chicago, Joe Schmidt has developed a superb squad and the team duly claimed a Grand Slam in March.

They then went on to defeat Australia in June for a rare series success against one of the southern hemisphere giants, but the All Blacks will be another level up.

New Zealand have enjoyed another excellent season, winning their sixth Rugby Championship, but they did succumb to a shock home loss to South Africa, while they also struggled to beat the Springboks in Pretoria and England at Twickenham.

There is a slight sense the gap is closing and that Schmidt’s men are well placed to overcome Steve Hansen’s charges, but the visitors are still seen as 4/9 favourites at various bookmakers.

That makes Ireland a decent punt at 47/20 with BetStars, particularly if the hosts can replicate the start England made last weekend. The All Blacks struggled with the intensity and physicality of the Red Rose and the Irishmen will look to begin in a similar vein.

Should that happen then Jacob Stockdale is worth backing for first try-scorer at 14/1 with Betfair, while Keith Earls is 16/1 with the same company.

Scotland v South Africa

Another interesting game takes place on Saturday with Scotland hosting South Africa at Murrayfield following a confidence-boosting 54-17 triumph over Fiji last weekend.

Gregor Townsend’s men have impressed in the past year, thrashing Australia and running New Zealand close in the previous November series, before beating France and England in the Six Nations.

Although the defeat to Wales at the start of the month was a setback, they were excellent in the second-half against the Pacific Islanders and will provide a significant test for the Springboks this weekend.

Rassie Erasmus’ outfit have enjoyed an improved season in 2018 and stunned the rugby world when they defeated New Zealand in Wellington. South Africa eventually finished second in that competition but started their northern hemisphere tour disappointingly by going down to England.

Although they responded by overcoming France, Erasmus’ charges were fortunate to escape with a victory and, as a result, backing the hosts would be the prudent thing to do with them 13/8 at BetStars.

Should you feel that the South Africans will be too strong, however, then they are 8/13 with Bet365, Paddy Power and 888sport to claim a win.

They struggled early on against Les Bleus, though, and the home side have a lethal finisher in Tommy Seymour. Should playmakers Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg start brightly then Seymour is 11/1 with various companies to cross the whitewash first, but Sbu Nkosi is favourite at 10/1 with Betfair.

Best of the rest

Away from those big games, there are some other intriguing bets. Argentina could be worth backing against a France side who must be low on confidence following five successive defeats. They were stunned by South Africa’s late try in the final minute last weekend and Los Pumas are 12/5 with BetStars.

Elsewhere, England are clear favourites against Japan and debutant Joe Cokanasiga is 7/1 at Sky Bet to touch down first, while the two Brave Blossoms wingers, Kenki Fukuoka and Akihito Yamada, are a tempting 25/1 with Betfair.

Tomos Williams ‘anytime’ may also be worth a punt in the Wales v Tonga game. The scrum-half knows his way to the line and is 12/5 at Bet365.