Autumn Internationals Rugby Union Betting 2009
As an integral part of the preparations ahead of the 2010 Six Nations tournament and potentially the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the home nation rugby union sides (including France and Italy making up the traditional Six Nations line-up) have arranged a tough series of tests against gruelling opposition during November 2009. England are playing host to Australia (7th November), Argentina (14th November), New Zealand (21st November), whilst Wales are set to face the All Blacks on the 7th, Samoa on the 13th, Argentina on the 21st and Australia on the 28th. Scotland welcome Fiji on the 14th, Australia on the 21st, Argentina on the 28th, whilst Ireland host Australia on the 15th, Fiji on the 21st and South Africa on the 28th. Elsewhere France entertain South Africa on the 14th, Samoa on the 21st and New Zealand on the 28th. Meanwhile Italy take on New Zealand on the 14th, the Springboks on the 21st and Samoa on the 28th.
Offering a myriad of Rugby Union Betting opportunities for the growing number of fans who register interest with the leading internet bookmakers so as to add another dimension to their personal rugby union team supporter experience, the Autumn Internationals also play a vital role in allowing national team coaches to evaluate the current form of the best players at their disposal. Barring those who've picked up temporary knocks or are in the midst of convalescing, or perhaps coming back from long term injury lay-offs, these test matches provide the ideal game-playing scenario to see exactly what shape the teams are in at this juncture in the domestic rugby union season.
England's Preparations Scuppered By Series Of Injuries To Key Players
Whilst acknowledging that all the home nations are involved in exceptional rugby union test action between now and Christmas, Free Betting Online are staying true to our roots by taking a closer look at the England team in particular, and attempting to determine the lay of the land with these massive games just around the corner. The Investec Challenge Series is an annual event that sees rugby union teams representing the teams that comprise the Six Nations tackle the best that rugby's southern hemisphere teams have to offer, and with the 2011 Rugby World Cup in coaches minds already, this series of matches provide the ideal opportunity to observe just how on track the home teams are at this juncture.
Of course rugby union test matches of this magnitude take on a wider perspective and meaning when learning that the results count toward the teams rankings going into a Rugby World Cup, so are pivotal to eventual seedings and draw placings even this far off the tournament. Which again underlines that there's all to play for the teams involved. Not that any of the aforementioned rugby union teams require any additional motivation to play to their optimum given the long and proud history against arguably the world's best teams.
New Zealand, South Africa And Australia Rugby Autumn Internationals Betting 2009 Favourites
England have won some 327 of their 617 test matches, affording them a win percentage of 53%. As a test squad England are currently classed as the 7th best team in the world, trailing New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, France and Argentina as of the end of summer 2009. England head coach and ex-international, Martin Johnson presides over which available players will make the current England rugby union squad, with 15 from any of the following to be selected at any one time to participate in the up-coming Investec Challenge Series should they remain fit; Danny Care, Harry Ellis, Paul Hodgson, Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Hipkiss, Matthew Tait, Mike Tindall, Matt Banahan, Mark Cueto, Ugo Monye, Olly Morgan, George Chuter, Dylan Hartley, Tim Payne, Phil Vickery, Julian White, Dave Wilson, Steve Borthwick (England Captain), Louis Deacon, Ben Kay, Steffon Armitage, Tom Croft, Joe Worsley, Jordan Crane and Nick Easter all in the present frame. Big names already missing through injury include Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood, Rob Webber, Lee Mears, Simon Shaw and David Wilson are set to sit out the important tests, while its just been confirmed that Sale Sharks' prop – and one of the heroes of the British Lion's tour to South Africa recently – Andrew Sheridan is also definitely omitted from a seemingly ever decreasing squad being ravaged by a collection of injuries.
Of particular concern to England – and rugby in the broader sense – is the accumulation of shoulder injuries that are these accounting for more and more rugby lay-off statistics. Sheridan's dislocated left shoulder means that he's become the fifth (joining big name England rugby stars such as Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey, Jordan Turner-Hall and Tom Rees) and latest casualty within the past few weeks to succumb to a shoulder injury, which is now regarded as the most common form of set-back to beset the game. By adding Sheridan's name to the list, there's now a disappointing 11 first team members that wont be reporting for England duty over the coming month, and gives the clearest indication yet that the teams that Martin Johnson will put out will bear little resemblance in truth to those he'd been busy pencilling in on paper over the summer.
Jonny Wilkinson Set For England Recall According To Press And Online Bookies
Small crumbs of comfort might well originate from a blast from the past as it were though, as a former golden boy of English rugby is set to take to one of the bigger stages once more after impressing Johnson and his scouts with some great performances; with shades of his illustrious international past. We're talking none other than Jonny Wilkinson, who's been something of a revelation since his move from Newcastle Falcons to French side, Toulon last summer. The talismatic fly half has said to have rediscovered the type of form that made him the first name on the England team sheet over the years, encouraging news that should give everyone concerned a lift despite the loss of current stars of the game.
None of this will press the internet bookmakers into adjusting their online Rugby Autumn Internationals Betting 2009 odds too much we should imagine, given that current world order still suggests that those teams from the southern hemisphere will do the dirty over us again. Yet although New Zealand, South Africa and Australia may well get it all their own way with forthcoming tussles against England thanks to the odds becoming even more heavily stacked against us, hope springs eternal with France, Ireland and a revitalised Wales not being turned over easily these days, carried forth on the 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall' approach to the game of international rugby union.
Autumn International Rugby Free Bets
As they're announced by the virtual bookmakers themselves, we'll endeavour to bring you the very latest pre-match odds, prices and markets, so be sure to return here nearer the Rugby Autumn Internationals Betting 2009 kicking off. What we can assure you though is the prevalence of Free Bets that will be made available by the very same online bookies ahead of the international tests, that will prove too big an offer to turn down. In the meantime we leave you with the way in which interactive bookies see the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which one way or another could well provide you with some pointers right here, right now.
In terms of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the outright win betting odds on average across the markets (in relation to the teams contesting the forthcoming Autumn internationals) read a little something like this; however results going against the rub between now and then could alter these figures either way; New Zealand (5 - 4 favourites), South Africa (10 - 3), Australia (9 - 2), France (12 - 1), England (14 - 1), Ireland (16 - 1), Wales (18 - 1), Argentina (28 - 1), Scotland (100 - 1), Italy (300 - 1), Fiji (500 - 1) and Samoa (750 - 1).