Last Saturday South Africa snatched a thrilling but brutal match from the grasp of the Lions to take the second Test - and the series - at Loftus Versfeld.
The Lions fought admirably but in the process picked up numerous injuries, and those punters that have bought the Springbok series supremacy spread will be hoping that the injuries can lead to a 3-0 whitewash come the weekend. Lions props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones have already been ruled out of the final Test after undergoing surgery, and the team could also be without backs Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Tommy Bowe and Ronan O'Gara – a huge consideration for any potential buyers of the Lions win index spread.
The Sporting Index traders have made South Africa firm favourites to make it 3-0 this Saturday in Johannesburg, although buyers of the 2-1 series win correct score spread and sellers of the Springboks’ win index and supremacy spread for the match will have noted that they looked vulnerable at times in the previous two Tests. Unfortunately the Lions have a less than impressive record at the Coca-Cola Park stadium which will be a concern to the buyers of the Lions win index spread.
Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth time that the Lions have played their final test of a series in Johannesburg (also in 1968, 1974 and 1997), but the team have won just once here, by a single point in their first ever test against South Africa in August 1955. Of the three final Tests in Johannesburg, the Lions lost twice and drew once. Sellers of total points might like to know that the tourists scored just 36 points in these three Tests at an average of 12 points per game. The same spread bettors should also be aware that a total of 103 points were accumulated in the three games. For spread bettors focusing on the SA/Lions match supremacy market, South Africa’s winning margins in the ’97 and ’68 Tests were 18 and 13 respectively. The 1974 match was drawn.
Over the two Tests on this tour, a total of 100 points have been scored, at an average of 50 points per Test. Judging by the squad Ian McGeechan picked for the summer tour, rugby union spread bettors might have expected less tries, but buyers of the total tries spread for the series will not be complaining about the nine tries over the two previous Tests. Supremacy spread bettors may also be surprised at South Africa’s narrow margins of victory of just three and four points. Should the final match of the tour unfold as the penultimate one did last Saturday, in-play spread bettors could be in for a treat. Many of the points scored during the tour have been registered in the final stages of matches and with the final Test being played at high altitude, canny in-play punters might wish for another late scoring burst to settle the match.