Weekend Rugby

Fletch was bang on with his call of Wales on the handicap, as the lost by six points. The less said about England the better.

Australia v Wales, Saturday 11am

This is an under strength Wales side, albeit with roughly the same number of caps as the Australia. The local feeling downunder is a handsome win for the Aussies, but I am not so sure.

I quite like a small punt on Alfie Thomas and his band with a 17 point start at 10/11 with Paddy Power.

Now, I know Aussie are rightly expecting a good win but their franchises in the Super 14 consistently disappointed and Wales are a unpredictable outfit. Awful one moment and thrilling the next.

A lot depends on how Wales have trained and how they start. James Hook is vital. If he settles quickly that will help Wales a lot and their first-up tackling must be solid.

If both these happen then it could be quite close – or a lot closer than many Aussies are assuming.

South Africa v England, Saturday 1pm

Right – let’s get the obvious out the way. This is one helluva of a chance for Jake White to demoralise England before the World Cup and he means to take it. All the noises from South Africa have been how this match can have a huge psychological effect on these sides who meet in the Pool stages in the Autumn.

So no quarter asked for and none given.

England are without 30 frontline players and now have a gastric bug to worry about. In contrast SA have a few injuries – Os du Randt, Fourie du Preez and Jacques Fourie, but they have big name players everywhere and their half-back combo of Butch James and Ricky Januarie should control the game after a behemoth set of forwards have squeezed England till they squeak.

That SA should win is a no-brainer and conditions and form will decide by how much.

10/11 with a 21 point handicap is probably the bet with Boyle sports. It looks like a lot of points, but a defeat by fewer than 10 for England is almost a miraculous victory.