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England vs Argentina betting tips:
- England win by 8+ points - 5/2 with Unibet
- England first team to score - Evens with bet365
- Argentina to score first try - 5/6 with William Hill
England head into their first game of a Rugby World Cup with an unfamiliar feeling of being underdogs to an Argentina side that could produce the goods this weekend.
It is a fair reflection of how bad England have been under Steve Borthwick that very few bookmakers have them as favourites to edge out the Pumas in Marseille.
England have lost six of their nine games under Borthwick this year and suffered a demoralising 30-22 defeat to Fiji last month.
The mood in the Red Rose camp is understandably dour and fans heading out to France for the tournament aren’t expecting a repeat of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final appearance for this side.
Four years on from that defeat to South Africa and it feels as though England still haven’t recovered.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s game, including our rugby betting tips to consider backing.
England rugby team news
England are hurting before they’ve even carried a ball this summer. Borthwick has no captain in Owen Farrell or No.8 in Billy Vunipola.
Creative players Jack van Poortvliet and Anthony Watson suffered injuries ahead of the tournament.
There are fears Kyle Sinckler may not be fit but George Martin, Elliot Daly and Tom Curry should be ready for Saturday.
This is not what Borthwick needs before taking on a fully-fit Argentina side that will play quick rugby and seek to outplay England over 80 minutes.
Structure will be key, especially if Borthwick cannot name his preferred XV. Don’t be surprised if England seek to grind this one out and make it an ugly contest.
England vs Argentina: Who will win?
Tactically, this is destined to be something of a mismatch. England have reverted to old style rugby under Borthwick and they’ve struggled to even get the basics right. On a hot evening in Marseille, this could be a real grind.
Argentina will bring the offensive impetus here and look to play quick rugby. It’s all they know.
England will need to be solid in the tackle to keep their opponents from line breaks here. In response, England will seek to use their muscle to get over the line.
Argentina look good to win but England may well have enough in the pack to force the penalties required to edge it (1/1 with bet365).
England vs Argentina bet builder tips
Here are three quick rugby betting tips ahead of Saturday’s 8pm kick off.
Tip 1: England to win by 8+ points
Rarely will you see such long odds on England to win a Rugby World Cup opener. Yes, Argentina look dangerous and England are in all sorts of trouble, but Borthwick has insisted his team is primed to peak on 9 September.
Unibet have odds of 5/2 on England winning by eight points or more. If they hit their straps early then this is viable, especially if the defence holds up.
Tip 2: England first team to score
Don’t be surprised if we see George Ford kicking through a penalty at the earliest opportunity. Bet365 have them at evens (1/1) to score first.
England can’t treat this as a training exercise. They need a win and points are a priority – if they force a mistake from the Argentina forwards early on they can take the initiative.
Tip 3: Argentina to score first try
Saying that, if there are to be tries in this game then Argentina will likely outscore England on dot downs.
The speed of their passing game could cause all sorts of trouble and an early breakaway try at 5/6 with William Hill is a bet we're willing to take on.
Get free bets on England vs Argentina
Should you wish to take any of our Rugby World Cup betting advice, be sure to check out what free bets are available before placing your wager.
Many new betting sites offer sign-up offers for new customers which often trump those of the more established brands, with BetUK’s ‘Bet £10 Get £30’ promo being a prime example.
Free bet sign-up offers
More established bookmakers such as BoyleSports have bespoke offers specific to the Rugby World Cup and England's opening game in particular.
Always read the terms and conditions when signing up to a bookmaker site and please remember to gamble responsibly.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
