While rugby fans and bettors eagerly await the start of the Rugby World Cup in September, they can enjoy and bet on some action during the final week of the 2023 Rugby Championship. Bettors can find the latest Rugby Championship odds at some of the top sportsbooks in the country.
The futures odds are one-sided, as are the betting lines for the tournament’s final two games. But even heavily favored teams can lose a game once in a while… or fail to cover the spread.
Rugby Championship Odds
The Rugby Championship is an annual competition between four of the top national rugby teams in the southern hemisphere: Argentina (the Pumas), Australia (the Wallabies), New Zealand (the All-Blacks), and South Africa (the Springboks). Teams usually play each other twice, once at home and on the road. But since this is a World Cup year, they are playing once.
Round 1 was on July 8 and saw South Africa dominate Australia, 43-12, while New Zealand crushed Argentina, 41-12. In Round 2 on July 15, New Zealand defeated South Africa, 35-20, and Argentina edged out Australia, 34-31.
The outcome of the Round 3 games will decide the winner of the 2023 Rugby Championship. Let’s review our predictions and picks, starting with Australia vs. New Zealand.
Australia vs. New Zealand: Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total
The game is scheduled for 7:45 pm AEST on July 29 (5:45 am ET). Fans can stream the game live via FloRugby.com’s platform or watch a replay On-Demand.
RUGBY · Sat (7/29) @ 5:45 am ET
| New Zealand All-Blacks | at | Australia Wallabies |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, AU | ||
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The All-Blacks own a commanding lead in their all-time series against the Wallabies with 54 wins to 28 losses and six ties. In Rugby Championship play, New Zealand has been dominant, going 11-2-1 with wins in the last four matches.
Australia’s last win over New Zealand in Rugby Championship action was in 2019. But the Wallabies did beat the All-Blacks in the 2020 Tri-Nations tournament.
New Zealand is usually one of the best teams on the planet, and this season is no different. They will enter this game ranked No. 3 in the World Rugby Rankings, behind France (No. 2) and Ireland (No. 1). However, the All-Blacks cannot overlook the Wallabies.
Australia was ranked No. 7 but fell one spot to No. 8 after their recent loss to Argentina.
Better Luck Next Time Australia
Eddie Jones has yet to lead the Wallabies to a win since returning to Australia, and he will not get his first against New Zealand. Jones has a good squad, but they are not in the same class as the All-Blacks. The game will be fun to watch but not too competitive.
Our Pick: New Zealand, -15.5
Argentina vs. South Africa: Moneyline and Point Spread
The game is scheduled for 5:05 pm SAST on July 29 (11:05 am ET). Fans can stream the game live via FloRugby.com’s platform or watch a replay On-Demand.
RUGBY · Sat (7/29) @ 11:00 am ET
| Argentina Pumas | at | South Africa Springboks |
| Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, ZA | ||
There is little history between the Pumas and Springboks. Their first meeting came in 1993, but they did not play regularly until Argentina teamed up with Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations series to form the Rugby Championship in 2012.
The two teams have played 34 times, with South Africa winning 30 to Argentina’s three (one match ended in a draw). South Africa has won the last six matches. Argentina’s last victory came during the 2018 Rugby Championship, 32-19.
Like New Zealand, the Springboks are often one of the better teams in the world. They currently rank fourth in the World Rugby Rankings. But Argentina is a good team. With their recent win over Australia, they moved from No. 8 to No. 7 in the world rankings.
South Africa Will Win, But Will They Cover?
The Springboks would need a massive win over the Pumas and a total collapse by the All-Blacks when they face Australia to have a remote shot at winning the series this year. But they will not take Argentina lightly. With the World Cup just a couple of months away, they’ll use this game as a tune-up match.
Argentina will not be able to keep up with South Africa. The Springboks will run away with this one.
Our Pick: South Africa could cover the spread, but we recommend betting the Over instead.
Rugby Championship Futures
- New Zealand -900 (DraftKings)
- South Africa +500 (BetMGM)
- Argentina +10000 (DraftKings)
Points decide the winner of the tournament. Teams get awarded four for every win, two for ties, and zero if a team loses by more than seven points. But they can also earn bonus points, one if a team beats their opponent by three or more tries, and one if a team loses by seven points or less.
Heading into the tournament’s final games, New Zealand holds a commanding lead with nine points, South Africa with five, and Argentina with four. With just one point, Australia can’t earn enough points to win. But it will also be hard for anyone to overtake New Zealand.
For South Africa to win, the Springboks must beat Argentina by three or more tries, but a dominant win will not be enough. They have to hope Australia pulls off a massive upset and blows New Zealand out of the water, which is highly unlikely.
Argentina will have a shot if they can blow out South Africa by three or more tries, and New Zealand loses by 7+ points. But that will just put them tied in the standings with the All-Blacks. One of the tie-breakers would decide the winner, and New Zealand has an advantage there.
But if the Pumas crush the Springboks bad enough and the All-Blacks suffer a similar fate, Argentina has a chance.
Our Pick: No question — New Zealand.
Best Sports Betting Apps for Rugby Odds
How can you find the best sports betting apps for rugby? Who you can bet with will depend on who operates in your state and carries odds for rugby. This is where six of the best betting apps operating in the US are licensed to take bets:
- DraftKings: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY
- BetMGM: AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, OH, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY
- Caesars: AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV
- BetRivers: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MI, NY, PA, WV & VA, CT & NJ
- FanDuel: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY
- PointsBet: CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA & WV
Those are the biggest shops, but many smaller operations contribute to providing customers with deep menus. But the online marketplace for rugby odds can vary, putting those who have done their homework in the best positions to capitalize on rugby predictions. Incentives are aplenty, too.
Best Sportsbook Bonuses for Betting on Rugby Odds
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How to Bet on Rugby
If you’re looking to bet on the rugby this year, it’s a perfect time to take advantage of amazing limited-time welcome offers available at sportsbooks today. Add more than one sports betting app to your playbook so you can line shop for the most competitive rugby odds.
Choose Your Online Sportsbook
Most US states with legal online sports betting put multiple mobile sports betting apps at your fingertips. The welcome bonuses, as well as the odds on rugby markets, differ from sportsbook to sportsbook.
Check out Gaming Today for comprehensive coverage of online sportsbooks operating in your state. Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook, you must provide proof of age and identity to register for a new account.
Make Your First Deposit
Once the sportsbook verifies your account details, you’re ready to deposit funds and start wagering on rugby.
Navigating to the cashier at your chosen sportsbook displays all the different deposit options. But some of the most reliable deposit methods include PayPal, Play+, debit/credit cards, and ACH/eCheck.
Make Your First Bet
Legal online sportsbooks offer a few ways to bet on rugby, i.e., the spread, moneyline, total, and futures. Remember, many welcome bonuses at sportsbooks are only for the first wager, so choose wisely!
Cashing Out
If your rugby bet cashes in, congratulations! You can reinvest your winnings into other bets, but if you are ready to cash out, all sportsbooks will offer you several different options.
PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and Play+ represent some of the fastest ways to cash out when your rugby wagers win.
What Is Implied Probability?
Implied probability refers to the likelihood of a particular outcome based on the odds. For example, New Zealand is the betting favorite to win the Rugby Championship at DraftKings with -900 odds. Those odds translate to a 90% implied probability the All-Blacks repeat as champions.
You can use our calculator to determine a wager’s implied probability.
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