Rugby
2023-09-17 - Australia vs Fiji
A Sports Betting Pick by Stu
Rugby World Cup : France
Sunday 17th September 2023
Australia
Australian fans will be pleased to see their national team finally win a match under Eddie Jones leadership by winning their opening World cup pool match over Georgia.
Surprise selection at fullback, Ben Donaldson scoring 2 tries and kicking 6 of 7 attempts for a personal tally of 25 points from the teams 35-point display, this all from just his 4th test cap.
As for the team’s performance, Australia can count themselves quite lucky with Georgia able to score while down a man and bombing at least 2 probably 3 tries with handling errors when hot on attack – Australia left with plenty to work on.
Fiji
Fiji surprised many with a major victory over England in their last hit out before their first match, 22-30. This was Fijis first ever victory over England and would have raised some eyebrows for all the teams in pool C.
The first up match for Fiji was against Wales and although this ended in defeat, again Fiji put in a spirited performance in a very close loss in their opener for the Cup.
The first half was close, but Wales led at the break and looked in command leading 32-14 with just 18 minutes remaining. Fiji lifted after both teams received a yellow card late in the match.
Fiji scored twice in quick succession to close the gap to 6 points and threw everything at Wales in the final moments, Radradra dropping the ball with the line open as the final whistle blew.
Odds
The Bookies cannot separate the teams, $1.95 to $1.95, the line is 1 point in favour of France and total points is 48.5
The Betting Verdict
Make no mistake, Fiji have made huge improvements and are no longer the easy beaten team of years gone by. Fiji have always had talent but lacked the cohesion of the first-tier nations, the lack of money and quality coaching all contributing to produce exciting, but predictable losses for the pacific island side.
Australia dwarfs the Fijian island in population and despite the close proximity to each have only met 22 times in their history. Australia have won 19 of those meetings and Fiji twice, back in 1952 and 54 with one match drawn. The most recent meetings were in 2017 played in Melbourne where the Aussies won 37-14 and 2019 in the last world cup in Japan, again victorious 39-21.
The only difference between Fiji and Wales in their opener was a lack of composure and a lack of discipline at times. Even a small improvement here and the out of form Australians could find this match a difficult prospect, one which could decide who progresses from pool C.
Ultimately Australia should win based on history and their most recent meetings. Fiji will push them hard and possibly claim the smallest of victories if Fiji can replicate a showing similar to their England match.
Current odds have the Aussies ahead and rightly so, Fiji should be good enough to stay within a couple of tries at a minimum and for the brave out there, possibly upset the 2 time champions with a bit of luck.
Suggested option though is for Australia to lead at both HT and FT returning $1.80
The Pick :
Australia 26-18 Fiji
