Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au says Waratahs flyhalf Berrick Barnes will score more points in the 2012 Super Rugby season than Melbourne Rebel James O’Connor.

Barnes has been installed as the $1.82 favourite and O’Connor at $1.92 in their head-to-head shoot-out for most points.

“Both players can score points so the personal battle between them will be great to watch but we expect Berrick to have a few more shots at goal than James so as a result he starts as slight favourite,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

Punters have also voiced their opinion on who they think will win the Round 1 showdown between the Waratahs and Reds at ANZ Stadium, with 94% of bets taken on the head-to-head market coming for the Quade Cooper-less Queensland.

The Reds have firmed from $2.25 to $2.20 to win the match but the ‘Tahs remain strong favourites at $1.65.

“That is an overwhelming statement by the punters,” Hawes said. “They are simply not interested in the Waratahs.”

sportsbet.com.au is celebrating the arrival of the 2012 Super Rugby season by offering a money back special on the highly anticipated clash between the Reds and Waratahs. Punters who place a bet on the head-to-head market and if their team is leading at halftime but loses the match, they’ll get their money back.

James O’Connor v Berrick Barnes most points

$1.82 Berrick Barnes
$1.92 James O’Connor

Waratahs v Reds

$1.65 Waratahs (out from $1.60)
$2.20 Reds (in from $2.25)

The Western Force are the $3.50 favourites with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to take home the dreaded wooden spoon for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Second in the market is the ACT Brumbies at $4.50 with South African sides the Lions and Cheetahs at $5.00 and $6.50 respectively while the Hurricanes are the first Kiwi side in the market at $7.50. The Rebels have been priced at $8.00.

The Force have also been installed as $1.07 favourite to miss the playoffs in 2012 as well the $7.00 outsiders to make the playoffs this season.

“We’re anticipating a tough year for the Force and their trial form has reinforced that,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “The punters think they’ll be the worst performing Australian side this season.”

The Brumbies and Rebels are both $4.50 chances to make the playoffs in 2012 and also are $1.17 to miss the playoffs.

The Waratahs are at $1.62 and the Reds are at $1.45 to make the finals and have been priced at $2.10 and $2.50 respectively to miss the playoffs.

New Zealand has been installed as the $2.00 favourite in winning nationality betting with Australia ($3.25) and South Africa ($3.50) outsiders.

sportsbet.com.au is celebrating the arrival of the 2012 Super Rugby season by offering a money back special on the highly anticipated clash between the Reds and Waratahs. Punters who place a bet on the head-to-head market and if their team is leading at halftime but loses the match, they’ll get their money back.

2012 Super Rugby wooden spoon betting

$3.50 Force
$4.50 Brumbies
$5.00 Lions
$6.50 Cheetahs
$7.50 Hurricanes
$8.00 Rebels
$21 Highlanders, Bulls
$36 Chiefs
$67 Sharks
$81 Waratahs
$101 Reds, Stormers
$151 Blues
$176 Crusaders

To make 2012 Super Rugby playoffs betting

$1.22 Crusaders
$1.32 Blues
$1.45 Reds, Stormers
$1.62 Sharks, Waratahs
$2.00 Chiefs
$2.50 Bulls
$3.00 Highlanders
$4.50 Brumbies, Rebels
$5.00 Cheetahs
$6.00 Hurricanes, Lions
$7.00 Force

To miss 2012 Super Rugby playoffs betting

$1.07 Force
$1.11 Cheetahs, Lions, Hurricanes
$1.17 Rebels, Brumbies
$1.33 Highlanders
$1.50 Bulls
$1.73 Chiefs
$2.10 Waratahs, Sharks
$2.50 Reds, Stormers
$2.87 Blues
$4.00 Crusaders

2012 Super Rugby winning nationality betting

$2.00 New Zealand
$3.25 Australia
$3.50 South Africa

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

France have been installed as $2.40 favourite by online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to win the 2012 Six-Nations Rugby Championship ahead of Wales ($4.00), defending champions England and Ireland (both $5.00).

Scotland are a $26 chance and Italy are the rank outsiders at $151.

“There has been some interest on Wales to go all the way. In fact, we’ve had twice as many bets on them to win it compared to the rest,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

In Sunday’s first round of matches, France are at $1.02 and Italy are at $13 with the line set at -21.0 points where $1.91 is on offer while England are $1.62 favourites for their clash with Scotland – the Scots are $2.32 outsiders.

Despite the loss of Brian O’Driscoll, Ireland are tipped to comfortably beat Wales on Monday after being installed at $1.45 and the Welsh at $2.78.

“The punters have been very interested in the Ireland versus Wales game with allegiances split down the middle,” Hawes said.

2012 Six-Nations – Round 1 Betting

France v Italy
$1.02 France
$13 Italy

England v Scotland
$1.62 England
$2.32 Scotland

Ireland v Wales
$1.45 Ireland
$2.78 Wales

2012 Six-Nations winner Betting

$2.40 France
$4.00 Wales
$5.00 England
$5.00 Ireland
$26 Scotland
$151 Italy

The Waratahs will kick-off their campaign with a win over defending Champions and fierce rivals the Queensland Reds, the Brumbies will make light work of the Western Force and the Blues will down the Crusaders in the battle of the gun Kiwi sides in the opening round of the 2012 Super Rugby season says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au

The ‘Tahs are $1.60 favourites to account for the Quade Copper-less Reds at ANZ Stadium with Queensland the $2.25 outsiders, the Brumbies have been installed at $1.50 at home to beat the Western Force ($2.50) while the Blues are $1.68 and the Crusaders $2.15 for their first round blockbuster at Eden Park.

In the remaining opening round matches, the Bulls are $1.75 favourites to beat the Sharks ($2.05), Sonny Bill Williams and the Chiefs are at $1.40 to account for the Highlanders ($2.25), the Stormers ($1.20) are tipped to flog the Hurricanes ($4.40) and the Lions are $1.48 against the Cheetahs ($2.60).

“On paper, the Waratahs have a very good side, are playing at home and with the Reds not having Quade Cooper for the first round clash, they start as favourite,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

“We’re very confident the Brumbies will comfortably take care of the travelling Western Force while the battle between the Blues and Crusaders is like a final in the first round!”

In Championship betting, seven-time winners the Crusaders, despite being outsiders for their first round clash, are the $4.00 title favourites. The Blues and Reds are on the second line of betting at $6.50 while the Waratahs are also in contention for silverware at $7.50.

The Melbourne Rebels are at $34 in their second season while it will be tough year for the Brumbies and Force, who make up the final two positions at $41 and $51 respectively.

“The Waratahs have recruited well and have a good draw and while expectation will again be high, they have the team that can really push for the title this season,” Hawes said. “The Reds still have enough firepower to score points without Cooper and if they’re in a good position when he returns they are serious contenders.”

“Unfortunately for the Rebels, Brumbies and Force, 2012 is looking rather gloomy already. Hopefully one of the Australian sides can stick it to the rest and win it again.”

The Reds are the $2.20 favourites to win the Australian conference, slightly ahead of the ‘Tahs at $2.30 with the Brumbies and Rebels at $11 and Force at $15.

The Crusaders are priced at $1.78 to take out the New Zealand conference, ahead of the Blues ($3.34), Chiefs ($7.80), Highlanders ($10.20) and Hurricanes ($21) while the South African conference looks to be a two horse race between the Stormers ($2.60) and the Sharks ($3.00) with the Bulls ($5.00), Cheetahs and Lions (both $9.00) considered outsiders.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

Super Rugby Round 1 Head-to-Head Betting

Blues v Crusaders
$1.68 Blues
$2.15 Crusaders

Brumbies v Western Force
$1.50 Brumbies
$2.50 Western Force

Bulls v Sharks
$1.75 Bulls
$2.05 Sharks

Chiefs v Highlanders
$1.40 Chiefs
$2.25 Highlanders

Waratahs v Reds
$1.60 Waratahs
$2.25 Reds

Stormers v Hurricanes
$1.20 Stormers
$4.40 Hurricanes

Lions v Cheetahs
$1.48 Lions
$2.60 Cheetahs

2012 Super Rugby Title Betting

$4.00 Crusaders
$6.50 Blues, Reds
$7.50 Waratahs
$9.00 Stormers
$11 Sharks
$13 Bulls
$15 Chiefs
$19 Highlanders
$34 Hurricanes, Rebels, Cheetahs, Lions
$41 Brumbies
$51 Western Force

Australian Conference winner Betting

$2.20 Reds
$2.30 Waratahs
$11 Rebels, Brumbies
$15 Western Force

New Zealand Conference winner Betting

$1.78 Crusaders
$3.34 Blues
$7.80 Chiefs
$10.20 Highlanders
$21 Hurricanes

South African Conference winner Betting

$2.60 Stormers
$3.00 Sharks
$5.00 Bulls
$9.00 Cheetahs, Lions

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has finally reached its climax with what was an intriguing final involving New Zealand and France. It’s been 16 years since the All Blacks last played a world cup final and they started the game as firm favourites. They played great rugby in the build up to the final and looked like a team that was ready to lift the Webb Ellis Cup and put the pain of 1995 behind them. In stark contrast France barely looked worth their place and if it wasn’t for a questionable red card shown to Wales skipper Sam Warburton in the semi final they may never even have made it there.

The History

France, much like the All Blacks, are no strangers to a Rugby World Cup final having made it there on two previous occasions. The first took place in 1987 at Eden Park in which New Zealand won the game 29-9 and the second final appearance for France came in 1999 when they lost to Australia 35-12. Not a great record and after losing last Sunday to New Zealand France are now played 3 lost 3 in Rugby World Cup finals.

New Zealand don’t exactly have a love affair with the Rugby World Cup in spite of the fact they’ve started a number of World Cup tournaments as strong favourites over the years. They’ve managed to lift the trophy once in 1987 but since then have cracked under the pressure of the world’s biggest stage. History meant pressure for New Zealand who could so easily have been looking at another failed final attempt if only France had kicked a little better.

Pre Match Odds

New Zealand Win 1/9

The Draw 40/1

France Win 7/1

*Odds source

Looking at how the bookies priced the game it’s clear for all to see that no one gave the French a chance and to be brutally honest on their tournament form there’s was very little reason to. The All Blacks were favourites and many expected them to blow the French out of the water.

How It Went Down This Time Around

It’s safe to say that as Rugby World Cup finals go this one wasn’t exactly a smooth flowing game of rugby. If it had been the All Blacks might have won by a much more comfortable margin. As it happens France decided to show up and narrowly missed out in what we’re happy to call an 8-7 thriller.

The scoring started early in the first half when unlikely try scorer Tony Woodcock completed a very impressive training ground line out which split the French defence and allowed Woodcock to get over the line unchallenged. This was followed by a penalty from fourth choice kicker Stephen Donald who was making his world cup debut and the score was 8-0 to the All Blacks.

France hit back with some big tackles and in the second half came out and dominated the game for the first 15 minutes. A converted try from Thierry Dusatoir got them right back in it and set up a grandstand finish which ended with an 18 phase attack from the French breaking down on the New Zealand 10 metre line. From here the All Black surged forward killing the remaining seconds on the clock and securing a dream final victory on home soil.

Australians are supporting the national team with their wallets as the Wallabies prepare to face a highly fancied New Zealand outfit in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup Semi Final.

While still the outsiders, the Wallabies have firmed from $3.45 into $3.05 with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, while the All Blacks have eased from $1.30 out to $1.40.

“Certainly the bigger bets have been on New Zealand, but in terms of the volume of bets placed it’s currently running four bets on the Wallabies to one on the All Blacks,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

The fight for the other spot in the final is expected to be a close affair with Wales ($1.73) slight favourites over France ($2.09), with no price fluctuations since markets opened last Sunday.

The All Blacks are priced at just $1.53 to win the tournament on their home soil, ahead of the Wallabies at $5.00, Wales at $6.00 and France at $8.00.

Sportsbet.com.au is getting behind the Wallabies. Simply place a bet on any individual try scorer market – if your bet loses but the Wallabies win the match you get your money back! The markets included in this offer are: first try scorer of match, last try scorer of match, first try scorer for their team and a player to score a try at any time of the match.

2011 Rugby World Cup Semi Finals Betting Market @ sportsbet.com.au

• $1.40 New Zealand (out from $1.30)
• $3.05 Australia (in from $3.45)

• $1.73 Wales
• $2.09 France

2011 Rugby World Cup Champion Betting Market @ sportsbet.com.au

• $1.53 New Zealand
• $5.00 Australia
• $6.00 Wales
• $8.00 France

Following their come from behind win against the Springboks, the Wallabies are $5.00 with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Wallabies are two matches from World Cup glory, however, will face their toughest test in the semi final against New Zealand, who are priced at just $1.57 to win the tournament.

In the battle to decide which antipodean team will contest the final, the All Blacks are paying just $1.30 to defeat the Wallabies, who are $3.45 outsiders.

“The patriotic money has been for the Wallabies all tournament and hopefully we can pull off an upset against the All Blacks,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“Certainly whichever team wins the match will go into the final as warm favourites against either Wales or France.”

The fight for the other coveted spot in the final two is expected to be a closer affair with Wales ($1.73) slightly more favoured than France ($2.09).

2011 Rugby World Cup Champion Betting Markets @ sportsbet.com.au

• $1.57 New Zealand
• $5.00 Australia
• $6.50 Wales
• $8.50 France

2011 Rugby World Cup Semi Finals Betting Markets sportsbet.com.au

• $1.30 New Zealand
• $3.45 Australia

• $1.73 Wales
• $2.09 France

Rocky Elsom is in doubt for Saturday’s night game when the Barbarians take on the Wallabies. He couldn’t finish Friday’s training session because of a knee industry which casts a cloud over his availability for the game.

His Aussie counterpart David Lyons has been rushed into the side as an emergency replacement if he is needed. He will be given until late Saturday afternoon to prove his fitness.

Lyons said “I’ll wait and see what happens but it would be a great honour to play for the Barbarians.”

“It came out of the blue, the call to join the boys for this match.”

“I was going to go out and watch the match. To play would be amazing. I’m ready to go.”

It is shaping up to be an interesting game between the Barbarians and the Wallabies with players on both sides eager to prove a point. None more so than runaway Rugby League star Sunny-Bill Williams.