The 2019/2020 Rugby 7s season began in Dubai with an exciting series taken out by South Africa over New Zealand in the final. The series moves to Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium this weekend and the question is - Can the Blitzboks be beaten? As usual, we have a full betting preview of the Pool stages and the Stage winner.
Cape Town Rugby 7s Betting Tips
Pool A
In Pool A, we have the defending champs from Dubai (South Africa), the series winner of last season (Fiji) and 2nd place from last season (USA) as well! So it’s fair to say, getting through this group will be a tough mission. The Blitzboks looked unstoppable in Dubai and finished off the series win with a 15-0 result in the final against NZ. Now, they’ll have the advantage of the Cape Town faithful on their side and they should be really hard to stop. Fiji were uncharastically disappointing in Dubai as they failed to reach the Quarters, which doesn’t happen often. But they are the defending champions in Cape Town and they’ll surely bounce back. Similarly to Fiji, the USA had a tough time in Dubai and lost to NZ in the Quarters 26-5. This is not an easy bounce back Pool for them either. All we can say about Japan is good luck boys! Ultimately, we just can’t back against the South Africans on their home turf.
Pool A
South Africa to win
$1.45
Pool B
Pool B is all about New Zealand at unbackable odds in what should be a 3-0 start in Cape Town. They’re coming off a finals appearance in Dubai. While the final didn’t go their way (15-0), they’re going to be up there again with their speed and defence hard to crack. Argentina did well in Dubai with a second placing in the Pool stages against Fiji and did worry South Africa in the Quarters. So it should be New Zealand and Argentina advancing with Canada/Wales battling for 3rd spot. Can’t bet against the Kiwis here.
TIP: New Zealand WIN - No Value Bet
Pool C
In Pool C, we have the always fierce rivalry matchup between England and France. The two countries met in the Dubai Quarters and England just got over the line in the last few seconds. Overall, England finished 3rd in the stage with a 19-17 win over Samoa. But we are liking the value for France considering they always seem to step up against the Poms and will likely only need to beat them to finish 1st in this Pool. They should also be extra motivated after the close loss in Dubai.
Pool D
It was a great start to the new Rugby 7s season for Australia with a 3-0 record in the Pool stages, which included a win over the USA. But they fell to Samoa in the Quarters 19-14. Now in this Pool, they’ll have to face Samoa once again. So we have to like the value for the Samoans if they can produce another upset. They made it all the way to the Bronze final in Dubai and really challenged England in a close 19-17 defeat. Ireland and Kenya could spring a few upsets but they’ll likely finish in the bottom two of this Pool. So we’re all over the price for Samoa in Pool D.
Prediction
It’s a great time to be a South Africa Rugby supporter after their World Cup victory and a dominant display in the Dubai 7s. With home field advantage in Cape Town, we find it difficult to bet against them. In the last 6 series in Cape Town, the Blitzboks have not finished outside the top 3 and have a 50% strike rate when it comes to winning the series. Their speed around the park is hard to match and that should be the key in back to back series victories.
South Africa to win
$2.50
