What Are The Odds?

There is always an added spice when Ireland cross paths with Argentina and the game that brings the curtain down on the 2012 GUINNESS Series promises to be as tough as any over the course of the preceding 12 months.

It is a crucial match, but it is one that Paddy Power, official bookmakers to the IRFU, make Ireland the favourites to win. Declan Kidney’s men are 4/9 to win the match and 10/11 to do so with the handicap of -5 points.

There have been lots of positives for Ireland from the GUINNESS Series to date. The narrow defeat to South Africa was frustrating, but considering the high profile injury list, it was commendable.

Some new faces got their chances to shine against Fiji and the resounding win showed the depth of options available to Ireland’s head coach.

With some of the less established players eager to impress ahead of next year’s Six Nations, we can expect some big performances and it could be worth backing Ireland -14 points at 5/2 in the Alternative Handicap.

Los Pumas are no strangers to beating Ireland, but crucially, they have not managed to do it on Irish soil. Home advantage has been key throughout the teams’ history, with the hosts winning all nine of their (non-neutral) meetings to date.

Argentina have played their part in some epic tussles in Dublin, but they have yet to leave the capital with a win courtesy of Ireland’s 100% success rate when they have home support.

It is likely to be hard-fought and close. Over the course of Ireland’s seven wins over Argentina, the average margin of victory has been just eight points.

The option of backing Ireland to win by 6-10 points is a 4/1 shot, while the Alternative Winning Margin of Ireland to win by 1-10 points is a 17/10 shot.

After his hat-trick against Fiji, Craig Gilroy will get plenty of attention, both from the Irish fans and the Argentina defenders.

2012 has been the Ulster winger’s breakthrough year for Ireland and it would be fitting to see him round it off with a try at the Aviva Stadium.

Gilroy is 9/1 to be the First Try scorer and 2/1 to Score a Try At Anytime in the match. If you are feeling optimistic, he is 40/1 to follow up last week’s hat-trick with another one this week.

The Try scorer markets look extra appealing this weekend because we are running a great Money-Back Special on this match along with England v South Africa and Wales v New Zealand matches. If number 10 scores a try at any time in any of those matches, we will refund all losing Try scorer bets on that match.

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