Tag Archives: the Rugby Championship

Wallabies make 5 changes for Springboks encounter

September 2, 2014 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Ewen McKenzie has made 5 changes to the Wallabies lineup to face the Springboks at Pattersons Stadium on Saturday.  The team is:

Slipper, Hanson, Kepu, Carter, Simmons, Fardy, Hooper (c), Palu, Phipps, Foley, Horne, Toomua, Kuridrani, Ashley- Cooper, Folau

Bench: Fainga’a, Cowan, Alexander, Horwill, Higginbotham, Hodgson, White, Beale

Two of the changes are injury enforced with Kuridrani coming in for McCabe and Hanson in for Charles.  The Kurtley Beale experiment at number 10 has come to an end with Bernard Foley replacing him and Nick Phipps comes in at halfback in place of Nic White.  Both Beale and White are on the bench.

There are no other changes to the forward pack, which frankly is a surprise given our poorly the forwards played against the All Blacks a fortnight ago.  On the bench Will Skelton has been left out with james Horwill replacing him.

 

Rugby: Wallabies side named for 1st Bledisloe clash

August 12, 2014 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , 1 Comment

Ewen McKenzie has named the following line up to take on the All Blacks this weekend:

1. James Slipper (vc – Queensland Reds)
2. Nathan Charles (Western Force)
3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
4. Sam Carter (ACT Brumbies)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
6. Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies)
7. Michael Hooper (c – NSW Waratahs)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
9. Nic White (ACT Brumbies)
10. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
11. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc – NSW Waratahs)
14. Pat McCabe (ACT Brumbies)
15. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)

Reserves*

James Hanson (Queensland Reds)
Pek Cowan (Western Force)
Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies)
Will Skelton (NSW Waratahs)
Ben McCalman (Western Force)
Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne Rebels)
Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs)
Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies)

*one player to be omitted

Beale in ahead of Foley is a strange selection for mine whilst the selection of McCabe and Horne on the wings is an obvious pointer to the intent with wish McKenzie hopes his troops will play the game and obviously strengthens the team defensively.

Shumpty’s Punt: The Weekend Multi

September 6, 2013 By in Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Don’t really fancy anything going around at the races this weekend enough to tip anything. That said, here is a 5 leg multi that I am very keen on:

Leg 1: South Sydney Rabbitohs to cover the line (-6.0 points) against the Sydney Roosters in the NRL ($1.92)

Leg 2: Baltimore Orioles to cover the line (-1.5 runs) against the Chicago White Sox in the MLB

Leg 3: New Zealand to cover the line (-26.5 points) in the Rugby Championship against Argentina ($1.92)

Leg 4: Total points scored in the Australia v South Africa Rugby Championship test match to be less than 44.5 points ($1.87)

Leg 5: Pittsburgh Steelers to cover the line (-7.5 points) against the Tennessee Titans in the NFL ($1.92)

This multi will pay $29.64 (on Sportsbet) for every dollar invested.

Good luck and good punting all!

The Rugby Championship: Wallabies side named to face the Springboks

September 4, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Ewen McKenzie has named his team for the Rugby Championship match on this Saturday at Lang Park this morning as follows:

Israel Folau, Nick Cummins, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O’Connor, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper.

Bench: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Jake Schatz, Nic White, Matt Toomua, Jesse Mogg

The biggest change is Quade Cooper in for Matt Toomua whilst Israel Folau moves to fullback and Nick Cummins comes into the side on the wing. Ben Alexander has been dropped to the bench with Sepoke Kepu taking his place in the front row. Jake Schatz replaces his Queensland team mate Liam Gill on the bench whilst Jesse Mogg moves to the bench in place of Brumbies team mate Tevita Kuridrani.

Much will be made of Cooper coming in for Toomua. Frankly though it is the right decision given the spluttering attacking displays of the Wallabies in their first two outings in this Rugby Championship. That said, Will Genia has not been anywhere near his best so far so all of the blame ought not rest on Toomua’s shoulders.

Personally I continue to scratch my head at the ongoing selection of James O’Connor on the wing. He has been a liability in defence thus far and needed to be dropped for mine.

Kick-off is 8pm Saturday night Brisbane time.

Shumpty’s Punt: the weekend multi 24/08/12

August 24, 2012 By in Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

It is that time of the week again when minds turn to the sport one is going to be watching the weekend. With another weekend packed with sports to watch the next question that floats into the mind is what ought one bet on. I have come up with a six leg multi that I like the chances of for punters. Last week’s multi was a disaster right from the first leg so I hope this week’s version serves punters better.

I am a bit short of time this week so will dispense with the commentary around my selections and jump straight to it. Before I do though a shout out for my Rugby Championship preview on pinkrugby.com. If you want to be in the know about all things rugby it is hard to go past this excellent site.

All prices are as at the time of writing from sportsbet.com.au.

So the multi for this week is as follows:

Leg 1: Brisbane Lions to defeat the Port Adelaide Power at home in the AFL ($1.70)

Leg 2: New Zealand All Blacks to cover the line (-14.5) against the Australian Wallabies in the Rugby Championship ($1.92)

Leg 3: North Queensland Cowboys to cover the line (-8.5) against the Newcastle Knights in the NRL ($1.87)

Leg 4: Swansea to defeat West Ham United in the English Premier League ($2.10)

Leg 5: Chelsea to defeat Newcastle United in the English Premier League ($1.53)

Leg 6: South Africa Springboks to cover the line (-9.5) against the Argentina Pumas in the Rugby Championship ($1.92)

This multi will pay $37.65 for each dollar invested. As always: good luck and good punting to all!

Shumpty

Shumpty’s Punt: back after a hiatus!

August 17, 2012 By in Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , Leave a comment

After a self-imposed break from punting following a run of ordinary results, I have decided to wade back into punting this weekend and have come up with a weekend multibet that I am particularly keen on this week.

This weekend is again replete with sports viewing for all and sundry, highlighted by the first round of the inaugural Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere and the start of the English Premier League.  If you are interested, my preview of the weekend’s action in the Rugby Championship is here (http://pinkrugby.com/2012/rugby-championship-predictions-2012-rd-1).

This multibet is made up this week of five legs as follows:

Leg 1: Melbourne Storm to cover the line against the Brisbane Broncos (-4.0 points, $1.96)

The Broncos are in terrible form at the moment and despite having the home ground advantage in this Friday night football fixture I can not see them besting a Storm outfit who have awoken from their post State of Origin slumber in recent weeks.

Leg 2: New Zealand All Blacks to cover the line against the Australian Wallabies (-5.5 points, $1.92) 

As I point out in my preview, the heart says the Wallabies but the head says the All Blacks in this one.  I do not think the Wallabies have picked a team that can score enough points to best the All Blacks and with the class that they have in the back line I think the All Blacks might just run away with this one.

Leg 3: Canberra Raiders to cover the line against the Sydney Roosters (-6.5 points, $1.92)

The Raiders have been very difficult to pick in recent weeks as they have ebbed and flowed between looking like world beaters and wooden spooners.  That said in the last couple of weeks they have shown some more consistency and have found form at the right time of season.  The Roosters are out of the running and will not be looking forward to the trip down to the nations capital for this fixture.  I expect the Raiders to win this game and win it well.

Leg 4: Liverpool to beat West Bromich Albion ($1.91)

It is always tough to tip in the first week of the EPL but I just have a feeling that Liverpool will be primed for this game after their ordinary start to last year and think they are well placed to get the 3 points away at West Bromich.

Leg 5: South African Springboks to cover the line against the Argentine Pumas (-13.5 points, $1.92)

The Pumas join the Rugby Championship and will be primed for this historic first game for them at Newlands Stadium.  That will not be enough though for them to best a Springbok line up that is full of class across the field.  I expect them to outmuscle the Pumas in the forward and unleash their backline to win this game and to win it well.

This multibet will return $26.50 for each dollar invested.  Good luck and good punting to all and have a great weekend!

Shumpty