With the pool phase and quarter-finals done and dusted, medals are now on the line as we reach the semi-finals and final placing round. Darry Worthington previews the action.
There are some absolute crackers in store with Fiji and Australia squaring off in one of the semis while France and South Africa will go head to head in the other. There’s also an epic in the making in the 5th to 8th place category with New Zealand and Argentina locking horns.
Darry Worthington runs the rule over these games and the other minor placing play-offs.
Handicaps not available at the time of publishing.
New Zealand 83/100 | Draw 14/1 | Argentina 11/10 (14:30)
Tip: Argentina 11/10
This could well have been the final had it not been for a couple upsets yesterday with New Zealand going down 14-7 to a South African outfit they had beaten in the pool. While Argentina’s 26-14 defeat to hosts France was a bit less of a shock, one would have expected them to have put up more of a fight.
I’m going to play it safe here and back the South Americans to come away with a win. They are the better side for my money, even if their opposition are priced up as favourites.
Ireland 1/4 | Draw 19/1 | USA 33/10 (14:30)
Tip: Ireland (-)
It’s the other 5th to 8th place final next up, with Ireland taking on the United States. Both teams gave decent accounts of themselves in the pool phase with Ireland securing a five-point win over South Africa while the USA held France to a 12-12 draw.
They were unable to follow those results up when the tournament reached its business end, however, as Ireland were beaten 19-15 by an in-form Fijian outfit, while the USA went down 18-0 to Australia.
There’s a gulf in class between these two which is why I fancy Ireland to clear the handicap here.
France 49/100 | Draw 14/1 | South Africa 19/10 (15:30)
Tip: France 49/100
It’s over to the first of the big games with tournament hosts France taking on the Blitzboks. Both teams experienced rather poor pool phases with France losing to Fiji and being held to a draw by the United States while South Africa lost to both Ireland and Fiji.
The duo did hit form yesterday, however, with a brave defensive shift seeing the South Africans knock New Zealand out of the comp while France beat Argentina by 12 points.
As plucky as they were against New Zealand, I just cannot see South Africa repeating the dose here. Again I’m going for the safe option and backing the tournament hosts for a straight win.
Fiji 29/100 | Draw 18/1 | Australia 29/10 (16:00)
Tip: Fiji (-)
The second of tomorrow’s semi-finals sees Fiji take on Australia. The Fijians have been the standout team in Paris thus, impressing with three wins on their way to topping their pool. They then saw off a determined Ireland side in a thrilling quarter-final. Australia also went three from three in the pool phase with their most impressive result being their 14-22 win over Argentina. They then backed that solid pool phase campaign up with a dogged defensive display against the States, who they beat 18-0.
I’m going to back the Fijians to clear the handicap here. They are in great touch and look the favourites to win Gold.
Japan 58/10 | Draw 25/1 | Uruguay 1/8 (16:30)
Tip: Uruguay (-)
It’s the battle to avoid last place next up with Japan taking on Uruguay in the 11th/12th place final. The Japanese have found the going tough losing all their pool matches by massive margins and then getting smashed 42-7 by Samoa in yesterday’s play-offs. Uruguay have found the going a bit better despite losing all their games. The South Americans lost by just seven points to France in the pool phase and then gave Kenya a real run for their money going down by just five points to the African side in yesterday’s play-offs.
The Japanese have already shipped a boatload of points and I expect them to concede more here. I am on the Uruguayan minus handicap.
Samoa 3/10 | Draw 18/1 | Kenya 29/10 (17:00)
Tip: Samoa (-)
Samoa and Kenya are next up in the battle for ninth place. Both sides have had some good performances with Samoa’s narrow pool phase loss to Australia their standout while Kenya looked good against an underrated Uruguayan outfit yesterday.
I really fancy the Samoan’s here. They have shown they are a decent side and I think they are a cut above the Kenyans.
