The second set of matches in the Rugby League World Cup gets underway on Friday evening when Coventry plays host to the defending champions Australia. They take on Scotland in Group B knowing that victory will see them into the quarter finals.
Scotland would have been hoping to go into this match with a free hit nature after a win in their opening game but that script has been ripped up and they need something from the match to stay in contention in it.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the BBC Two channel with the build-up to the contest starting at 7pm and kick off in Coventry coming at 7.30pm.
Australia
I think everyone had Australia down as favourites for the competition before the off and so there was a lot of attention on their opening match against Fiji to see just how strong they are. I think it is fair to say it wasn’t a flawless performance and that there were things they can and will improve on but after the shock of conceding an early try they clicked into gear and kind of went through the lower gears on the gearbox.
The aim of this tournament is to use the group stage to get the combinations intact and minutes into those who need them and then peak for the knockout stages and given that is their aim, I don’t think it was too bad a performance from Australia. We saw the quality they have in their back line and a couple of their forwards reminded us that they can play on this side of the world as well as impressing in the NRL. This will now be an exercise to top up on what they did good against Fiji.
Scotland
Scotland don’t have that luxury. They didn’t give themselves it when they put in a very weak display against Italy on Sunday. The plan probably would have been to beat Italy, rest some bigger players for this match and then attack the Fiji game next week with everything they have. They have had to rework that and really need to offer something in this game. Clearly winning is going to be hard but they have to set out to try and not get rolled over.
This was always going to be a tough assignment for Scotland when some key players pulled out ahead of the tournament and they lost another in that opening match but it was imperative they saw off Italy to keep their qualifying chances in their own hands and having failed to do that, and look incredibly tame in defeat to the Azzuri, you have to fear for them a little for the remaining two matches in the group. I’m sure they will give this all they have which is all they can do.
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Team News
Australia coach Mal Meninga has confirmed that he is going to make changes to his team for this encounter. Among those coming into the 13 are Nathan Cleary, Isiah Yeo, Campbell Graham, who could have been in the opposite team here, and Lindsay Collins.
Scotland have been rocked by the news that they are going to be without full-back Ryan Brierley who suffered an injury in the defeat to Italy. Alex Walker is expected to deputise for the Salford star in this match.
Betting
I don’t think the question is whether Australia will win this match, it is how many they will win it by. They are expected to win the match so comfortably that bookmakers are asking them to cover 60 points and more over the course of 80 minutes. That might well happen but we shouldn’t forget they are making changes and combinations will still be being formed so I don’t think it is a guarantee, although the way Scotland rolled over for Italy would certainly suggest this could be a rout.
I’ll head to the try scorer market for a bet on this one though and it is the Australia hooker Harry Grant who interests me for an anytime punt. Italy hooked Dean Parata went over the whitewash in the opening game against Scotland and you have to think that a much better hooker in Grant will catch the Scottish defence napping. Grant scored a try in the win over Fiji last week and we know he is an expert at breaking the line and at finding holes in the defence out of dummy-half. The even money on him to score looks too big against a Scotland defence which is going to tire badly as the night goes on.
Tips
Back H.Grant to score anytime for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
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