And then there were two. Like the plot of an Agatha Christie novel, the Super League’s main protagonists have fallen one by one, leaving just four to fight for a place at Old Trafford in the Grand Final. Holders St Helens and Huddersfield Giants were the two for whom the final hurdle proved too great, meaning the Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors are left to battle it out for Rugby League supremacy.
Across the codes, the World Cup rumbles on, and England achieved their aim of making history. Unfortunately for Stuart Lancaster it was the infamous milestone of being the first hosts ever to crash out of the World Cup in the group stage that was set, and their conquerors do battle on Saturday. Australia and Wales go head-to-head knowing both are through to the quarter final stage, but also that the winner will most likely take on Scotland while the loser faces a daunting tie with South Africa.
Perhaps instead of Scotland, that should read Japan. The Brave Blossoms have put themselves in an excellent position, but Vern Cotter’s side know a victory over stuttering Samoa will see them edge out the Pool B dark horses and reach the quarter final of Rugby Union’s premier international competition. Moving away from rugby and British shores, the Russian Grand Prix sees Formula 1 head to Sochi as Lewis Hamilton seeks to avoid being frozen out in the home of the 2014 Winter Olympics. So will the favourites prevail or are shocks on the cards? Any punter that can answer that question correctly is on the path to serious profits this weekend.
- Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos – Leeds Rhinos to win (11/10 at Bet365)
- Samoa vs Scotland – Scotland to win by 21-25 points (15/2 at Betfair)
- Australia vs Wales – Australia -7 handicap (10/11 at Sky Bet)
- Russian Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton to win (8/15 at Coral)
Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos – 10th October 2015
The stage is set. When Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos converge on Old Trafford this weekend, both will be fighting to retake the mantle of Super League’s top side. Before St Helens pipped the Warriors to the crown last year, the 2015 Grand Final opponents had won every Super League title since 2006 between them. If the Rhinos win Super League XX, they will move clear of St Helens to stand alone with seven Grand Final victories. There is plenty at stake, and it is difficult to separate the pair. Leeds topped the league after the regular season and the Super 8s stage, but only just. After winning five of their seven Super 8 games Wigan were only edged out by Leeds on points difference, and Shaun Wane’s side secured their place in the Grand Final with a convincing 32-8 win over the Huddersfield Giants. 2014 champions St Helens made it difficult for the Rhinos but Brian McDermott led his side to a 20-13 success, and it is they who stand between the Warriors and the title.
The previous meetings between the sides this year suggest the Grand Final will be a tight encounter. Leeds won the first clash 26-14, before 27-12 and 26-24 victories for the Warriors. The Rhinos’ 25-18 Super 8s success made it two wins apiece, with an overall aggregate score of 87-85 in favour of the Yorkshire outfit. The match will be decided by small margins, and it will take some magic to eke out those margins. Both sides have plenty of quality but it is 2015’s leading points scorer, Kevin Sinfield, who possesses the ability to shape the game. With not-so-secret weapons like Sinfield bolstering the Leeds line, it makes sense to back the side that cantered to Challenge Cup success with a 50-0 triumph over Hull KR to power their way to yet more success. Inexplicably Leeds are outsiders for this crunch match, and 11/10 from Bet365 represents a steal for punters.
- Leeds Rhinos to win – 11/10 at Bet365
Samoa vs Scotland – 10th October 2015
When Vern Cotter perused the Pool B fixtures ahead of the World Cup, he must have assumed that Samoa would be the main threat to Scotland’s passage to the quarter finals. It would have been a fair assumption on paper, but the resurgence of Japan has proved that this World Cup will be decided out on the pitch. Scotland thrashed the Brave Blossoms after their tournament-defining shock victory over South Africa, but were no match for the Springboks themselves when the sides met. Japan, meanwhile, swatted a tepid Samoa aside and will end their tournament with an easy-looking tie against Pool B whipping boys USA. That means the scenario is simple for Scotland. Win and, unless South Africa top their Japanese humiliation with an even bigger shock defeat against the USA, Scotland will finish second and most likely take on Australia. Lose, and against all odds they will be heading home.
Samoa have been abject for most of this World Cup campaign, one in which they expected to challenge Scotland for second spot. In their ties with South Africa and Japan the Polynesians scored two of the three lowest points tallies in any game so far. Samoa have been completely unable to break through disciplined back lines, with even the USA putting up a fight. Scotland meanwhile were emphatic against Japan and the USA, with no pride lost in a defeat to a clearly superior South Africa side. Scotland will win this game, and they will win it well. Betfair are offering 15/2 on the margin being between 21 and 25 points, and if Japan can do it, Scotland can.
- Scotland to win by 21-25 points – 15/2 at Betfair
Australia vs Wales – 10th October 2015
There is one trend that has continued through every single World Cup – the hosts progressing through the pool stage. Therefore the meeting this weekend between Australia and Wales is a meeting of history makers, the sides that eliminated the hosts. England’s conquerors are both safely into the quarters, and the winners of this tie will most likely take on Scotland while the losers face a tough tie with South Africa. The Wallabies were certainly more emphatic in their win over the tournament hosts, and only New Zealand scored more points from their opening three fixtures – 127 to Australia’s 126. However, Wales have shown as much grit as quality, with the boot of Dan Biggar seeing off England before negotiating a potentially tricky tie with Fiji in style.
Australia are undoubtedly the stronger side; led by Bernard Foley, outscored by only two players so far in the tournament, they are capable of outgunning any opponent. Biggar has kicked his way to a 36 point haul already and Gareth Davies has managed four tries, so Wales are capable of notching up points, but they know any lapse in concentration will be punished emphatically, and Foley will take any kick with the posts in sight. Sky Bet’s offer of 10/11 on Australia with a handicap of -7 is worth a go if they strike early and keep Wales at arm’s length. With England out of the picture, this is the big game for the two sides. Win, and the route to the semi-finals looks simple. Lose, and it is an uphill battle. Needless to say, with the hosts gone, one of these sides is about to establish themselves as one of the clear favourites to go all the way.
- Australia -7 handicap – 10/11 at Sky Bet
Russian Grand Prix – 11th October
For a while, it seemed as if Lewis Hamilton would be pegged back in the race for the Drivers Championship, and Jenson Button’s distinguished Formula 1 career was at an end. The Japanese Grand Prix put those fears to rest, however. First Hamilton recovered to overtake Nico Rosberg and stand atop the podium, and then Button committed his future to McLaren for another year. As such, it turned out to be a stand-out weekend for British motorsport at Suzuka. With Hamilton’s advantage over Rosberg now at 48 points, attentions turn to Sochi and the Russian Grand Prix.
This time last year, Hamilton won in Russia to establish a 17 point lead over Rosberg, who trailed in second. A repeat this year would see Hamilton’s advantage grow to 55 points and the world championship edge ever closer. Mercedes looked imperious in Japan and are expected to continue their form this weekend, which bodes well for Hamilton and Rosberg, and the Brit proved he will not bow to team ties last week with a battling victory over the German. Coral are offering 8/15 on Hamilton winning again in Sochi, which are good enough odds considering Hamilton is the clear favourite. Bar any mishaps, the fashion conscious Brit should take yet another significant step towards defending his title.
- Lewis Hamilton to win – 8/15 at Coral