New Zealand vs Uruguay Betting Tips: Predictions as All Blacks wrap up pool stages

In truth the outcome of Pool A in the Rugby World Cup was always going to be determined by the blockbuster opening game between hosts France and powerhouse nation New Zealand. After France convincingly won that game plenty of All Blacks soul searching was done and the response has been satisfactory since that defeat in Paris. The ABs are set to finish second in the group and go on to face world ranked number one team Ireland in the quarter finals, but before that they have a routine looking assignment against Uruguay.

Billy Grimshaw has noted the strength of the All Blacks squad and thinks the handicap line looks generous...

Technically the All Blacks need a bonus point victory to confirm their quarter final spot here, but that will be a foregone conclusion if they play anything like to the level they produced in battering Italy last week. Yes the Azzurri were no great shakes, but they beat Uruguay earlier in the tournament and that shows the huge gulf in class between these sides. New Zealand coach Ian Foster has once again made changes aplenty but the side he is fielding still looks strong and with Cam Roigard back in the side after enjoying a wonderful day out against Namibia with two tries and two assists resulting in a man of the match performance, there should be points all over the field.

Uruguay came into the tournament as the definitive second best South American side after Argentina but have not kicked on from their brilliant effort to run France much closer than anyone expected a few weeks ago. On the back of that result many fancied them to turn over Italy, but they were beaten in a hard fought game. They then seemingly regressed once more when facing Namibia, who made them work hard for the win and were indeed leading for large swathes of the game.

If the side that pushed the rotated French team to just fifteen points arrives here to face the All Blacks then perhaps our main bet will be in trouble, but this All Blacks side looks to be a try scoring machine and Uruguay look ready for the plane home. I'm expecting New Zealand to fly out of the traps before utilising their star studded interchange bench and inflicting more misery on poor Uruguay, so the -66.5 line looks one to snaffle.

The All Blacks may not run in 14 tries as they did last time out against Italy, but I do expect them to score plenty of five pointers and put on another show to attempt to vanquish, in their own minds as much as in those of their fans, the memories of that chastening first round defeat to France. New Zealand have of course won a record equalling three World Cups alongside South Africa and in each campaign in which they have gone deep into the tournament, their starting efforts have varied. What is invariable however is their coherence in attack improves as the tournament wears on and that is an ominous thought for Uruguay.

A bet builder I think looks remarkably solid with SpreadEx is for both wingers and the star of the show last time he played Roigard to grab a try for the All Blacks. Uruguay have been exposed out wide a few times this tournament by lesser sides than this New Zealand outfit and with Will Jordan on one wing and Leicester Fainga'anuku on the other the All Blacks have men on the wings ready to exploit any weaknesses. Both will still harbour hopes of being the man who claims the top try-scorer gong at the tournament and with the knockout rounds now approaching the blow out score-lines will be a thing of the past.

Roigard probably won't start against Ireland no matter how well he plays here, but the 22 year old will be determined to leave another big impression at the World Cup in a game  in which the All Blacks could well rack up a score. His two tries against Namibia were real poacher's efforts, with the Hurricanes man receiving the ball less than five metres out and simply spinning over the whitewash to cross, and I can see plenty of opportunity for more joy in similar style in this match. This treble pays 15/8 at SpreadEx which, although not exactly a longshot, looks remarkably solid and will complete the tipping recommendations.