Weekend International Rugby Betting

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There is some great Rugby action this weekend as England play Australia while Wales take on New Zealand in Cardiff, writes Rob Treloar…
England vs Australia

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will win his first England cap for 18 months as one of three World Cup winners recalled to the side to face Australia on Saturday. England boss Martin Johnson lost 11 of his original 32-man squad to injury in the lead-up to the match, including seven probable starters but has been boosted by Wilkinson’s return to fitness and form. Of course, Wilkinson has good memories of facing Australia having kicked the drop-goal to secure the victory for England at the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney. And Australia will be wary of Wilkinson’s presence in the England side.

Another World Cup winner making his return is hooker, Steve Thompson, who will make his first start in an England shirt since 2006 after being forced to retire in 2007 with a serious neck injury. After seeking a second opinion, and repaying the £500,000 insurance payout, Thompson has earned his place in the squad after some strong performances for club side Brive.

Australia have lost six of their last seven tests, all against South Africa and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations and so aren’t in good form going into the Grand Slam tour. However, a comprehensive win against English Premiership battlers Gloucester will have given the Wallabies confidence going into the match at Twickenham. Australia will go into the match as 57/100 favourites but Martin Johnson will be hoping his England side can deliver another memorable win over their rivals. England are priced at 7/5 while the draw is 20/1.

Wales v New Zealand

NZ return for to The Millennium Stadium for the first time since they controversially lost to France in the quarter finals of the 2007 World Cup, of one of the worst defeats in All Black history. Of course, the All Blacks will be the favourites against Wales, priced at 4/25 with bwin, especially as Wales haven’t beaten the All Blacks for 56 years. In fact, New Zealand have only ever lost to Wales once in 23 matches. But Wales will know exactly what challenges await them, especially as Welsh Coach Warren Gatland, a New Zealander and former All Black player, will have all the inside information having coached a number of the All Black players in New Zealand.

The All Blacks have recently slipped to second in the World Rankings, behind World Champions South Africa, having lost four of their 10 games so far this year. Understandable this hasn’t gone down well with the New Zealand public who expect better from their team. Wales have also suffered a downturn in fortunes since their Six Nations success last year understandably and are priced at 4/1 to beat the All Blacks in Cardiff,with a draw priced at 28/1.

All Blacks mercurial kicker, Dan Carter, is battling against injury after sustaining a haematoma in his calf during last weekends clash against Australia in Tokyo. One of Wales key players, James Hook, will be asked to play at full back because of injuries in the Welsh squad, but this could be a risky move if Carter wins his battle against injury.