By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
France will continue its impressive autumn campaign by welcoming Argentina under the lights on Friday night.
With both teams in strong form, it’s shaping up to be an electrifying encounter. The French juggernaut is well and truly back, playing some great rugby and producing quality moments for their home crowd.
However, Argentina is no longer an easy outing for Tier 1 nations, and the Pumas will go to Paris quietly confident.
It looks like an incredible encounter with many good betting options to explore, promising a thrilling night for rugby fans and bettors alike.
France
When their squad is fully available, France can beat any nation on the planet. They have a tremendous flair on the pitch, and their expansive rugby style is effortless on the eye.
Last week, they toppled New Zealand in a close contest that ended 30–29, showcasing their ability to close out tight games.
Looking at France’s form over the last five games, it is no surprise that they defeated the All Blacks. They have won four out of their previous five, averaging 26 points per match.
Quality is abundant within the French squad, where you can find talented players all over the pitch. Of course, scrum-half Antoine Dupont must be mentioned; he is hands down the best player in the world. It is hard to find a weakness in his game.
Another talented player on the French team is Thomas Ramos, who is Dupont’s halfback partner. He is excellent in open play, but his goalkicking sets him apart, as you can always rely on him to get the ball between the posts.
A big talking point from the team selection was the decision to leave out Grégory Alldritt, who is an absolute menace in the back row.
France will be looking to close out their campaign with a third victory as they go into the contest as heavy favourites—a testament to their quality and potential for a strong win.
Argentina
Over recent years, Argentina has established itself as a real force in world rugby.
The South American side is currently ranked fifth in the world, and a win over France would go a long way in climbing further up the rankings.
Last Friday, they went to Dublin and gave the Irish a real scare because, at one point, it looked like they would come away with the victory.
However, it wasn’t meant to be, as Ireland ended up winning 22–19. Felipe Contepomi’s squad can take a lot of positives from the game, as they showed a real fighting spirit to push Ireland so close.
However, Argentina has experienced mixed results over their last five games, winning two out of their previous five matchups.
Scoring hasn’t been an issue, as the team has averaged 28 points per game.
Players like Julián Montoya, Tomás Albornoz, and Juan Cruz Mallía will look to make an impact to try and upset the French crowd.
There is more firepower on the bench, as Mateo Carreras and Marcos Kremer return to the fold. Argentina has the tools to cause a massive upset in the French capital; it’s all about executing a quality performance on the night.
The Bets
We could be in for an absolute cracker on Friday night, leaving the door open for exciting betting options to ponder.
The best bet is that France will win by more than 9.5 points. However, with both teams having a potent impact and the ability to score at any time, it’s also a game that could be closer than expected.
You can find good value in France to win with the total number of points over 58.5.
France is a clear favourite, but for those who like a long shot, consider France’s winning margin being between six and ten points.
Going off the handicap and the expectation of a tight game, this seems like a plausible winning margin.
Best Bet: France to win by more than 9.5 points – 4/5
Value Bet: France to win with the total number of points over 58.5 – 19/10
Longshot Bet: France’s winning margin to be between six and ten – 7/2
