[Rugby] Union | League / Super / 6's & 7's / Internationals/Cups/Tours/Olympics

[Timelord2067]

Heh yeh - It was the King's Birthday long weekend (a little longer for some of us  ) - for many years it was in June, but now it's October.

Coming up are the League Internationals with the team announced after the Grand Final.

This Afternoon, the PNG PM XIII ($14) take on the unbackable Aus PM XIII ($1.01)



Looking at the line ups, Fiji will probably beat the Cook Islands then the Kiwis should out play Samoa.



Week 2, PNG should also beat the Cook Islands then the Tonga XIII to beat Samoa.

Also on the 25th October, England ($3.60) take on Australia ($1.26)



Round 3 will see PNG and Fiji clash in what should be a close game.  Then New Zealand should easily outplay Tonga.


Meanwhile, this Monday (my time) in the Gallagher Premiership, Harlequins ($2.90) take on the Saracens ($1.34)

and in the French Top 14, Toulouse at $1.07 seem to be unstoppable against Bordeaux languishing at $7.50.

[aoluain]

I totally forgot to post that the URC ^{United Rugby Championship} has started and
that we are already only 3 rounds in!

Already last seasons champions Leinster have been beaten twice a d my own team
Connacht have only played 2 rounds, won 1 and lost 1.

I havent tuned in to the odds yet but I'm hoping there will be some value in both Leinsters
and the Bulls upcoming matches.

[Timelord2067]

It would seem when one leage finishes, another starts in another part of the world.

This weekend, the Pacific RL competition continues  Tomorrow, PNG takes on the Cook Islands (another one sided game). Then, on Sunday, Tonga should overrun Samoa.

In the women's matches, Cook Islands take on Tonga. Then, on Sunday, the Australian women's team have a practice match with Samoa.

[aoluain]

Also dont forget Japan v Australia in Rugby Union!

I suppose somewhere in the world at anytime of the year there is Rugby being played,
we just dont get to see or bet on all those leagues.

Rugby Union here and in the Northern Hemisphere is played in Autumn, Winter and Spring.


Round 5 of the URC starts this evening with Glasgow Warriors hosting the
Vodacom Bulls. I fancy the home team tonight!

[Timelord2067]

Australia's win over England in the RL test was still being saturated replayed on TV in all the pubs and clubs until Wednesday this week.

[aoluain]

That is big news though, would English RL be generally classed as stronger than
the Aussie league?


Big ticket match on tomorrow in the Union game - Ireland v New Zealand.
Its being played in Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago. It was 9 years ago when
Ireland first beat the All Blacks at this stadium, interesting to see if they can repeat
the feat.

[Timelord2067]

I don't see anywhere enough of the English Superleague competition to know, but I'm always impressed how clean it looks compared to the Australian (NRL) game. That said, the visitors won 14 - 4 to take a 2-0 lead in the test. Australia is looking for a third straight win in another week.

In the other Rugby game on the same day, England won 25 - 7 against a worn out looking Wallabies side.

[aoluain]

Yea I saw the results today!

Ireland lost too unfortunately.

Thats the first round of the Autumn Internationals

In the other 2 matches Scotland racked up 85 points against a scoreless USA and
South Africa scored 61 points to Japans 7.

Round 2 nest weekend sees Ireland play Japan and Italy take on the Aussies - that
one could go either way I think.

[Timelord2067]

South Africa was always going to win against Japan, but in saying that, the Japanese always give it their all against any rivals.

Yesterday morning's breakfast program on the news 24 channel gave a one sentence comment about the mass stabbings on a London bound commuter train. Then gushed the Jillaroos Women's Rugby team had beaten their opponent.

Then went to "sports" and regurgitated the exact same news.

No mention of New Zealand smashing Tonga in the Pacific League cup. (Good game - I actually caught it. Both teams looked solid contenders with NZ simply getting over more times).

[aoluain]

Youre right, Japan rugby is always good to watch, the play the game fast! and they
are still a tier 1 team but a bit to go still to be top contenders for beating the top 6.
The Ireland v Japan match this coming weekend should be an entertaining one,
Ireland looked rusty last weekend.

France v South Africa will be one to watch too, France seem to have slipped in the
World rankings to 5. Odds are 2.06 v 1.80, thats a good price on the world No.1

[Timelord2067]

Wrapping up the week-end, the Australian women and the New Zealand men won their matches to take home the Pacific Cups.

In Union, Australia went down to Italy causing the Aust media to dump on the men's team. (One of the massive failings is our media to vilify a team if they don't win),


Screen shot via https://www.rugby.com.au/fixtures-results?team=All&comp=All&tab=Results



Screen shot via https://www.nrl.com/

[aoluain]

I was impressed with Italy last time out at the expense of the Aussies, winning
with good margin.

Big match coming up in a few hours of interest to both of us Timelord...

Ireland v Australia - fairly good odds on Ireland given they are the stronger side,
1.22 v 3.95


Big match just about to start soon, England v New Zealand. The odds show
England as favourite @ 1.88, I fancy New Zealand for this @ 1.93!

[Timelord2067]

Yes, I've managed to place a few bets this weekend.

Valence Romans paid $1.75
Colomiers $1.17
Ireland $1.25
France $1.04
Wales $1.18
South Africa $ 1.06

I *lost* on

Brive $ 1.72
Stade Montois $ 1.22
Biarritz $ 1.20
Aurillac $1.75
Agen $ 1.27
New Zealand $ 1.85

all of these were the favourites, so it just goes to show betting on the favourite doesn't always payout.

Still to play: Vannes $ 1.06 and
Scotland ($ 1.62) Vs Argentina:

[aoluain]

^
I thought Scotland had a good chance to beat Argentina but failed, 28 - 52.
That is a crazy score to register between 2 top teams.


Week 4 of the Autumn Internationals kicks off tomorrow with Wales v New Zealand.
New Zealand will want to won this after the beating they got last week!

Ireland have a tough match ahead against South Africa and likewise Australia will
have to deal with France.

I think South Africa and France to win.

[aoluain]

^
Yup France and South Africa won at the weekend.

The match between Ireland and South Africa was a poor enough affair, bad discipline
with many cards handed out.

Last match is Wales v South Africa this weekend.

Australia failed to win a match, not a great tour for them this year.
England, South Africa and France won all their matches.

Next international series for us is the six nations in February so its back to
the club tournaments on Friday.

[aoluain]

::::::RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 DRAW::::::



Very interesting draw for the RWC2027, its predictable which team is getting out of each pool
in top spot apart from pool D as Ireland and Scotland are drawn together.

Both pool's A and D are the difficult ones with New Zealand and Australia drawn together.

I always find this a bit non-sensical really because its already predetermined who is going
into the round of 16 and all this pool stages are is who tops the groups and some training
sessions for the tier 2 teams.

[Timelord2067]

::::::RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 DRAW::::::



Very interesting draw for the RWC2027, its predictable which team is getting out of each pool
in top spot apart from pool D as Ireland and Scotland are drawn together.

Both pool's A and D are the difficult ones with New Zealand and Australia drawn together.

I always find this a bit non-sensical really because its already predetermined who is going
into the round of 16 and all this pool stages are is who tops the groups and some training
sessions for the tier 2 teams.

I find it interesting when e.g. all the top ranking teams are in one batch and all the bottom run are in another - the initial games can be quite bruising when the players know they might crash out early.

Tomorrow, the Capetown 7's men's and women's games are on with South Africa (M) $ 4 and New Zealand (W) $ 1.90 expected to win.

In the France Pro D2 this weekend:

Carcassonne ($1.85) Vs Vannes ($1.90)
Aurillac ($1.90) Vs Brive ($1.85)
Beziers ($1.90) Vs Angouleme ($1.85)
Biarritz ($1.90) Vs Valence Romans ($1.85)
Stade Montois ($1.90) Vs Oyonnax ($1.85)
USO Nevers ($1.90) Vs Dax ($1.85)
Agen ($1.90) Vs Aix-en-Provence ($1.85)

I'm not sure if that means no one is placing bets, or, they are fairly evenly matched?

[Timelord2067]

I'm not sure if that means no one is placing bets, or, they are fairly evenly matched?

Probably too close to call ... In any event, all but one of my D2 bets lucked out.  (it's up to the Rugby 7's to bring home the bacon).

[aoluain]

I'm not sure if that means no one is placing bets, or, they are fairly evenly matched?

Probably too close to call ... In any event, all but one of my D2 bets lucked out.  (it's up to the Rugby 7's to bring home the bacon).

Damn Timelord, that was a close one, your a sucker for the parlays. I have stopped
doing them. I havent made any bets on the Rugby in weeks actually.

The URC is on a mini break,no matches for 2 weeks and back at it on the 19th.

I havent been following the European Rugby Championship or Challenge cup
 ... yet!

I hope to get back into the URC with the next round.

[Timelord2067]

This close to the end of the year I haven't been keeping track of which teams are still playing. I'll have a report this time tomorrow (stay tuned).