Argentina vs New Zealand Betting Tips

Recommended bet:

Handicap – Argentina +17 points @ 10/11 (1.91) with bet365*

Argentina welcome New Zealand to Estadio José Amalfitani (Buenos Aires) in Round 5 of the Rugby Championship 2018, with both the teams coming into the game on the back of shock results in Round 4.

Argentina will be in confident mood beating the Wallabies 23-19 in Robina, for what was their first victory over the hosts on Australian soil for 35 years.  The win would have been particularly sweet for Argentina coach Mario Ledesma, who was former assistant coach to the Wallabies.

Los Pumas now have two wins in this season’s Rugby Championship and also turned in a very creditable performance in going down 46-24 to New Zealand at Trafalgar Park, Nelson three weeks ago.

In full Tests Argentina have just one draw to show from 27 games against New Zealand, with the All Blacks also winning all the four early matches where only Argentina awarded caps.  However, Los Pumas are playing some excellent rugby under Ledesma and will believe they are capable of pulling off a major upset against the mighty All Blacks.

Despite out-scoring South Africa by six tries to five, the All Blacks went down to a 36-34 defeat in an epic encounter at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington to the Springboks a fortnight ago.  Coach Steve Hansen bemoaned his team’s game management deficiencies against the Boks. Beauden Barrett missed four of six conversions against South Africa, which will also be of concern.

The All Blacks will also be without their captain, Kieran Read, who is omitted as part of a prepared plan to manage his long-haul travel following a back operation late last year.  Vaea Fifita has been called up to replace Read in the loose forwards against Los Pumas.

Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles, Joe Moody and Liam Squire are also all unavailable, but star centre Sonny Bill Williams was named in the squad after missing out against the Springboks with tonsillitis.

The match betting odds sees Argentina priced up at 7.00 with bet365*, New Zealand are available at just 1.12 with Unibet with the draw offered at 41.00 with bet365*.  A better betting option might be to back Argentina on the Handicap with a +17 point virtual head start with bet365*.

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* Odds correct at the time of writing