Ireland and Australia meet in Dublin on Saturday and at the time of writing Ireland are double digit favourites with the bookmakers.
IRELAND
Ireland beat Fiji 35-17 last week and it kept their momentum going after the 19-16 victory over the Springboks the week before. It has been quite a year for the Irish who beat New Zealand 2-1 away in a 3 match series in July and they ran France close in the Six Nations earlier this year.
AUSTRALIA
Australia opened their campaign with a 1 point victory over Scotland where a missed Scottish penalty in the final minute saw them home. They were then on the wrong side of a 1 point defeat to France in what was probably Australia’s most impressive performance of the campaign to date.
They took a gamble and made changes for the Italy match last week and it back-fired horribly with Italy winning 28-27 as late Australian conversions sailed wide. It meant that all 3 matches of the Australian Autumn Nations Series campaign have been decided by just 1 point.
The Wallabies play Wales in Cardiff next week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These sides last met in a 3 match Series in Australia 2018 where Ireland came from a Test down to win 2-1. Their last match in Dublin saw Ireland win 27-24 back in 2016 and in 2014 they also beat Australia by a 3 point margin and Ireland have won 5 out of their last 7 against Australia.
TEAM NEWS
IRELAND
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Bundee Aki
AUSTRALIA
15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (c)
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Jordan Petaia
Take a bet on any Rugby International match this weekend and if the team you back loses after scoring 3 tries, we will refund you in Free Bet vouchers.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Ireland 1/6
Draw 30/1
Australia 5/1
Handicap: Ireland -10.5
Suggested Bet: Winning Margin, Ireland under 12.5 points at 17/10
This Irish side are packed with quality players, but I think that Australia have been under-estimated by the bookmakers here and this is a very different side to the one that lost to Italy. I think we are in for a typical close encounter between the teams and I will give the nod to the home team.
Looking at some of the other markets also, I quite fancy the 3/1 that the Australian Fullback, Andrew Kellaway scores a try and there will also be Total Points and other Exotic Markets available closer to kick-off.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
