It’s crunch time in the Rugby World Cup. With the group stages complete it’s time to get stuck into the big ones as we move onto the quarter-final stage. We’ve had a look at the upcoming fixtures and had a word with our rugby tipster to put together an acca that could win you £30 from just a fiver. Here we go!
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Wales to beat Argentina – 1.44
Wales will be looking to be the first side to get themselves to the World Cup semis when they take on Argentina. Warren Gatland’s men were impressive in Group C taking 19 points from a possible 20 and finishing top of the group comfortably. For Argentina, they will want to be looking to continue their good run of form. After losing their opening match to England, Los Pumas beat Samoa, Chile, and Japan to finish in second position in Pool D.
It’s going to be a hard-fought game that is going to be won and lost by the forwards. It’s a showdown where the pack will be absolutely crucial. Wales gets a lift as star fly-half Dan Biggar returns to the starting lineup after being on the bench in the previous match against Georgia. He could well be the difference between the two sides. With that boost and Wales’ strong pack, they will be too much for Argentina and be the first side through to the next round.
Ireland to beat New Zealand – 1.59
It is probably the biggest clash of the quarters as Ireland, the current world number one, takes on New Zealand. It was New Zealand who knocked the Irish out of the last World Cup, but they’ll be determined to not let that happen again and lift their World Cup curse. They were favourites coming into this one and they are still strong favourites now to go all the way.
New Zealand experienced a historic moment at this World Cup when they suffered their first-ever pool match loss on the opening night against France. Now, there are doubts about their ability to discover a winning strategy this late in the tournament. Ireland have won a record 17 consecutive matches, their last defeat coming in a series opener in New Zealand last July. It’s time for them to step up on the big stage.
England to beat Fiji – 1.25
England finished at the top of Pool D, winning all four matches and gaining a much-needed boost in confidence. Fiji secured the second spot in Pool C with three wins, although both teams struggled to conclude their group stage on a high note. It’s been a topsy-turvy campaign for this England side and it’s lucky they haven’t been drawn against one of the bigger nations for this quarter-final as they could well have struggled.
While this England team may not be considered one of the best, they have benefited from a lucky draw and an impressive initial performance against Argentina. This sets them up with the opportunity to secure a place in another Rugby World Cup semi-final. Their motivation for this match is to seek redemption for their summer defeat to Fiji and maintain their hopes of winning the World Cup. They will just have enough to get past Fiji and into the semis.
South Africa to beat France – 2.15
There is always one or two upsets in the quarters and I think this could well be it. This match seems to put two massive forward packs against each other, and in this tournament, the French pack has shown superiority when it comes to getting stuck in early on in the match. France have stood out as the most efficient attacking team in the competition, while the Springboks have displayed a higher tendency for errors among the eight teams that have advanced to this stage.
But, South Africa has been here and done it before. They know what it takes to go all the way, and more specifically, this squad knows what to do and how best to progress through the tournament. South Africa know how to perform in the clutch and being at home, all the pressure will be on this French side. I think it will be too much and the Springboks will prevail.
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