Round 2 of the RLWC begins this weekend and if Round 1 is anything to go by, international rugby league is bound to deliver. After a long hiatus, it is great to see this part of the game return. Despite some large score lines and eventual one-sided affairs, the quality of matches has been good to see. Most have been competitive, and the winner has only pulled away late. Either way, it is another chance for punters to find a return and as always, Before You Bet will have you covered every step of the way.
Rugby League World Cup Round 2 Preview & Betting Tips
Australia vs Scotland
Coventry Building Society Arena, Saturday 22nd October, 5:30am (AESDT)
The Aussies faced Fiji in Round 1 and took some time to find their momentum. When you’re the favourite to win the tournament, each side is going to be motivated for a positive performance. The Kangaroos were prepared for this; they probably would’ve wanted to start the match on a more positive note as opposed to conceding the first try inside 3 minutes. It wasn’t until the 15th minute that the Kangaroos scored their first points, and they scratched their way to an 18-4 HT lead. They were far stronger in the second half and with their combinations growing in confidence, they powered their way to a 42-10 victory. By their own admission, they still have several gears to work through in a performance and will be a far better team moving forward. This doesn’t look good for Scotland, a team who was defeated 28-4 by Italy in their opening match. It too was a tight first half, with Italy leading 12-nil at the break. When Scotland needed to lift their execution in attack and defence, they were limited and only scored their sole try in the 76th minute.
This match is expected to a be dominated by Australia. If Scotland struggle to be competitive against Italy, this will pose another challenge altogether. The changes to the Australian team from their Round 1 match won’t mean they are weaker; they hardly drop in talent with the incoming players. With a chance to established themselves in this side moving forward, they will want a strong display. You can expect yet another dominant Australian victory. It’s hard to find much value so the bet below is one to build a bank and one you may like to combine in a multi with a few others.
Australia 51+
$1.30 (5 Units)
England vs France
University of Bolton Stadium, Sunday 23rd October, 3am (AESDT)
England got their tournament off to a great start with a 60-6 demolition of Samoa. Heading into the game as outsiders courtesy of overhype around their opponents, the English team went about their work and established a strong defensive structure which would be difficult to breakdown. The opening half was a tight contest; the first points weren’t scored until the 21st minute (try to England) and the lead was only 18-6 at HT. A few injuries to their opponents on the edges offered further attacking opportunities and the England team didn’t need an invitation to take advantage. Their execution was most impressive. They are now in the box seat to advance through to the Semi Final and Final with a favourable draw. France were victorious 34-12 over Greece in their opening match, a result which was expected given the quality of each side. The French team cannot be underestimated; they have talented players in their side and will sense an opportunity to push England. As talented as they are, this England squad was impressive last week; they will want to build on that performance and make a statement that they are a team to be taken seriously. As good as their attack was last week, their defence was undervalued. It is a key component to their success and limiting France’s scoring will create a large enough gap to cover the line.
England -36.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Lebanon vs Ireland
Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Monday 24th October, 12:30am (AESDT)
This is a crucial Group C fixture, with the winner set to progress through to the Quarter Final stage of the competition against Fiji. Lebanon opened their campaign with a spirited 34-12 defeat against New Zealand. Trailing 18-6 at the break, the Cedars couldn’t match their opponents in the second half but forced them to produce some special plays to score points. Ireland started their campaign off with a 48-2 win over Jamacia. Always expected to win, they established victory early in the second half. This allowed their reserves to play longer minutes as their stars rested. Their momentum is key; they are listed as favourites ($1.70 vs $2.15) but are vulnerable. A lot depends on how well the Lebanon halves set up victory; the match-up between them and Keary will make for great viewing. With these two sides evenly matched, the preferred option for this game is to invest around a tight contest.
Either team by 6 points or less
$2.40 (1.5 Units)
