Lions to roar late in opening test

Lions Vs Australia

Rugby Union
Published: 21/06/2013

After a seamingly endless amount of warm-up games the action for the Lions gets underway for real on Saturday as they take on Australia in the opening test. the suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is the venue and here is our guide to the best of the bets from this series.

Bookmakers have the Lions as the 8/13 (william hill/SPREADEX ) favourites to win the three test series against Australia and clinch the Tom Richards Trophy. The Lions will be boosted by the fact they have won 15 of the 20 previous test matches against Australia dating back to 1899. Australia though won the last series 2-1 and will be confident of a repeat victory here. If you think Australia can win the series again then they can be backed at 7/4 (SKYBET/BETVICTOR/YOU WIN ) while the series to end drawn is 25/1 (GENERAL). Form for the Lions has looked decent so far with them winning every game bar the last one of the tour. Australia are also in good form though losing just two of their last nine games and winning each of their last three games (beating England, Italy and Wales). This looks a tough series to call and one that could be close in all three games.

With so little to choose between the sides I like the 11/10 (bet365) are offering that that the series will be decided in the third game. The Wallabies have a good record at home and you have to go back to 1971 when they last lost three in a row to a team in their own country (South Africa). You can back the British and Irish Lions to win the series 2-1 at 2/1 (BETVICTOR ) while Australia to win the series by the same scoreline is 3/1 (bet365/sportingbet/BETVICTOR). If you think the Lions can sweep the series then you can back them at 3/1 (paddy Power ) to win 3-0, while Australia to win 3-0 is 10/1 (BETVICTOR/YOU WIN).

Another bet I like the look of is in the Australia series tries market where Australia are 4/5 (BETVICTOR/888sport/ladbrokes) to score under 5.5 tries. Try scoring has been a huge problem for the Wallabies recently with them grabbing just four tries in the last five games.

Victory in Brisbane in the opening test is likely to prove crucial for the Lions as Australia won in Sydney and Melbourne back in 2001. Throw in the fact they lost three of their last four tours when losing the opening encounter and it is crucial the Lions to get off to a winning start. The Lions can be backed at 4/6 (ladbrokes/william hill/SPREADEX) to win the opening test while an Australia victory is a best price 13/8 (bet365/SKYBET). Australia will be bosted by their performance last time they were in Brisbane where they held New Zealand to an 18-18 draw. Bookmakers have a number of markets away from match betting and it is one of these in which I am interested. 888 Sport are offering 9/11 that the Lions score the last points of the game and I think this could be the way to play the game. The tourists have a stronger bench and mixed with the fact that Australia will no doubt come out all guns blazing this all suggests that the Lions will be roaring stronger as the game ends.

Those looking for a first tryscorer market will see that the market is headed by Alex Cuthbert at 11/1 (SKYBET/SPORTING BET) who has already grabbed three on the tour so far whle George North (SKYBET) and Australian Israel Folau (GENERAL) are both 12/1 chances.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Series to be decided in Game Three, 11/10 (bet365)
SILVER: Australia to score under 5.5 tries in series, 4/5 (BETVICTOR/888 SPORT/ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Lions to score last in First Test, 9/11 (888 SPORT)

Go To bet365
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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (21/06/2013) but are subject to change.

21/06/2013     © Frixo 2024

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