Rugby Union betting: Back the Second-half for most points in Australia v England

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With England having already tied-up the series after winning the first two Test matches, the Wallabies are playing for pride and to avoid what would be a humiliating whitewash in the 3rd and final Test in Sydney.

Australia coach Michael Cheika has made several changes to the Wallabies team, with Rob Simmons being recalled and Will Skelton called up in place of locks Sam Carter and Rory Arnold, while the previously injured Matt Toomua replaces Samu Kerevi at inside centre.

In an otherwise unchanged team, Northampton’s New Zealand-born flanker Teimana Harrison comes into the England back row for only his second cap in place of the injured James Haskell.  The loss of Haskell is a significant one for England, who has justifiable claims to be the player of the series to date.

Eddie Jones has certainly won the psychological battle of the former Randwick team-mates in the first two tests and England’s game management has been superior, with their defence nullifying the Wallabies attack.  Australia’s reluctance to kick for goal from penalties in the 2nd Test was ultimately to prove costly in their 7-23 defeat.

The Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019 is a long way off, but Jones is already calling on his players to complete a 3-0 series victory as a means of showing that they would be capable of putting together the consistent form required to win the trophy.

England go to Sydney as slight favourites to complete the whitewash with most bookmakers, but Haskell will be missed and you have to question whether the motivation will still be quite at the levels that has seen them secure victory in the first two tests.  Likewise, will Australia be determined or demoralised as they go seeking the compensation of victory at the Allianz Stadium Test?  

This is a difficult game to call, so taking into account that there could be some tired bodies out there after some bruising encounters in the first two tests, it might be worth looking at the game becoming more open late on and backing the second-half to have the majority of the points.