By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
As Ireland prepares to host Australia this Saturday, both teams are coming off contrasting results.
Under Andy Farrell’s leadership, Ireland has had a successful autumn, winning back-to-back matches.
They will be looking to carry this momentum into the Australia clash. On the other hand, the Wallabies are regrouping after a disappointing defeat to Scotland, their first loss of the autumn tour.
With Joe Schmidt returning to Ireland, the stage is set for an intriguing contest with various exciting betting options.
Ireland
The Irish entered the autumn as the number one ranked side in the world, but after a disappointing defeat to New Zealand, Farrell’s squad was knocked off the top spot.
Ireland is one of the more settled teams in world rugby today and boasts a deep squad filled with talented individuals.
Crucially, they can work together to create a free-flowing attack that causes opposition nightmares.
They are coming off a dominant performance against Fiji, where they looked like the complete package in Dublin.
Ireland hopes to finish the autumn with a win before all eyes turn to the 2025 Six Nations.
It will also be Farrell’s last game in charge before he begins his British and Irish Lions duties, so he will want to go out on a high.
As mentioned, there is significant depth in the Ireland squad, and key players such as Caelan Doris, James Lowe, and Andrew Porter will aim to deliver strong performances against the Wallabies.
One of the more exciting selections is that Sam Prendergast retains the out-half position.
The young Irishman had a solid outing against the Fijians last weekend and will look to gain further experience on Saturday.
Ireland will head into the clash full of confidence and will expect to close the autumn with three wins.
Australia
The difference between Australia now and at the 2023 World Cup has been night and day.
Joe Schmidt looked like he had a significant task rebuilding the squad, and while they are still a work in progress, Australia plays exciting rugby and has achieved some notable results.
Recently, the Wallabies have defeated England and Wales in contests where their attacking prowess was on full display.
They know how to score points and will aim to do the same against Ireland.
Additionally, Australia will be determined to bounce back after a disappointing 27-13 defeat to Scotland.
Schmidt’s squad possesses depth and exciting talent capable of causing problems for their Irish opposition.
The likes of Tom Wright, Harry Wilson, and Rob Valetini will be key in their bid to close out the international year on a positive note.
This autumn, a new rugby union star has emerged in Joseph-Aukuso Sauaalii, whose electrifying attack and physical tackles have been a highlight.
Australia has the talent to pull off a massive upset at the Aviva Stadium and secure a fantastic win for Schmidt against his former team.
The Bets
It should be a great game in Dublin, with both teams looking to deliver an entertaining contest.
This creates opportunities for several exciting betting options. The best bet is for Ireland to win by more than 13.5 points.
Ireland appears to be the stronger team on paper, and with home advantage, a comfortable win could be on the cards.
Building on this, there is good value in backing Farrell’s side to win by more than 16 points.
Ireland’s attack could exploit Australia’s defensive weaknesses, potentially allowing Ireland to dominate the game entirely and shut Australia out.
For those seeking a higher return, betting on Ireland to achieve a winning margin between 21 and 25 points could be a lucrative option.
Best Bet: Ireland to win by more than 13.5 points – 3/4
Value Bet: Ireland to win by more than 16 points – 21/20
Longshot Bet: Ireland to have a winning margin between 21 and 25 points – 11/2
READ MORE: The most surprising results of the Autumn Nations Series
