Rugby World Cup Pool C: All Blacks to dominate Argentina

New Zealand are quite simply the best team on the planet. They have lost just three times since lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft on home soil four years ago. The only teams to defeat them in that period are England, South Africa and Australia.

Unsurprisingly, they are the massive 1/25 odds-on favourites with Coral to win their opener with Argentina. The Pumas have never beaten the All Blacks and this is the hardest possible start they could have been handed. They did beat South Africa back in August, but any sort of victory here would be a serious shock and they are 14/1 to trip up the champions.

The one mini-success for the South Americans was a tie back in 1985 and the most unlikely of repeats is priced at 25/1.

Steve Hansen’s men are going to be keen to lay down a marker early on. They are odds-on 1/6 in the half-time/full-time market, and when you consider they have only been behind to their opponents here after 40 minutes once in history, then that looks like a great price.

The handicap line here lies at 22 and that could tempt many to back the underdogs. The last two clashes between these sides have been decided by 21 points in favour of the All Blacks and the evens on Argentina +22 may get some real attention. However, this is the holders’ chance to show what they can do and they could be in rampant form, so the evens on New Zealand – 22 should be snapped up.

As mentioned earlier, the last two clashes have been decided by just 21 points and New Zealand to win the game by a points margin of 21-30 is well priced at 5/2. Those feeling a little bolder should look to the 21-25 margin, which is available at 9/2.

It will come as no great shock that try machine Julian Savea is the favourite to get over the whitewash first at 5/1 but his anytime price of 4/7 really appeals, he averages nearly a score a game and he will get on the board here.

Backers searching for a more healthy return should cast their eye over some of the bigger men and who better than skipper Richie McCaw? The Kiwi legend is 10/3 to grab a try at some point in his team’s opener.