Argentina vs New Zealand Betting Tips: Two predictions for Rugby World Cup semi final
Three-times Rugby World Cup winners New Zealand will look to book their place in another final on Friday night when they face Argentina at the Stade de France and the All Blacks will be red-hot favourites to book their place in the showpiece event next weekend, where they will face either England or South Africa.
Here at BettingOdds.com we are buzzing for the two semi-finals and our man Steve Chambers previews the All Blacks clash with the Pumas and picks out his two best bets for the match...
Argentina v New Zealand Tips
Ian Foster's New Zealand produced a sparkling display to beat Ireland 28-24 in last weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter final and the All Blacks will head into Friday's semi-final with Argentina as red-hot 1/14 favourites. Behind at the break to Wales in their last-eight clash, Argentina showed real determination to turn the tie around and ran out comfortable 29-17 winners, but they are a whopping 10/1 with bet365 to claim a shock win and book their first Rugby World Cup final spot, while the draw is available at 50/1.
The All Blacks had to be sensational at the break down last week and they disrupted a lot of quick ball for the Irish, but this contest could be a lot more expansive and the willing runners of the All Blacks could do a lot of damage to an Argentina side that have been far from fluent during the tournament. New Zealand have won 33 of the previous 36 meetings, so well and truly have the upper hand in the head-to-head record and Foster has recalled Mark Tele'a on the wing after he missed the quarter-final due to breaking team protocol.
Tele'a is the clear favourite to bag the first try in the match, but it's the other winger Will Jordan that can kickstart a comfortable evening for the All Blacks and the 8/1 for him to score first is the way to go. Jordan has already amassed five tries in the tournament and will be looking to reel in Damian Penaud at the top of the tryscorer standings, as the Frenchman sits on six tries, but Jordan's ability on the wing could see him go over first. There's no doubting his brilliance in attack, but he also likes to come off his wing and get the ball in-field, so while some wingers will stay out on the wing for the ball, Jordan will be everywhere trying to get his hands on it. Add in the crossfield kicking ability of the likes of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga at 9 and 10 then Jordan can make the breakthrough for the 2015 world champions.
Argentinean rugby fans will still remember fondly their shock 25-18 victory over the All Blacks in the 2022 Rugby Championship, but it's pretty much been one-sided affairs between the two teams over the last decade or so and the All Blacks ran out 41-12 winners the last time the two sides met.
New Zealand showed during their 96-17 annihilation of Italy that on their day then can rack up the try count and Argentina may have produced their best display of the tournament in their second half clash with Wales, but on the whole they have been pretty average during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. If the All Blacks can replicate their fast start against Ireland last week and get an early 10-point advantage then they could quite easily pull well clear of their South American rivals.
With no value available in the win markets it's worth getting stuck into the winning margin markets and the 8/1 with Betfred for New Zealand to win by 31-35 points looks the way to go, as Argentina will have no answer to the attacking flair of the All Blacks and they could be helpless to stop the onslaught in the second half.
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