Where you should put your money on the Test matches this weekend, according to MARK KEOHANE.
Ireland vs Wallabies
The Irish were good, without being outstanding against the Boks. They played the underdog perfectly and ended up winning with some room to spare. They followed that up with the expected win over Georgia and now find themselves ranked third in the world, and favourites to beat the Wallabies. It's a surprising position given their record against Australia, who they've beaten just once in their last five meetings. Michael Cheika will be expecting a response in Dublin after a poor showing against France. I've got the Wallabies by six, making the 11/10 (R210 return for every R100 wagered) on offer good value.
Italy vs Springboks
The Boks should have no problems against Italy this weekend. Matches like these offer no value for betting on the outright and ultimately come down to whether the winners will cover the handicap or not. The bookies have the Boks 20 points better than Italy, so you need to decide if the winning margin will be more or less than 20 points.
Heyneke Meyer was conservative in his selection for this match, but the changes up front could have a big influence on the outcome here. Italy are a formidable scrumming unit and could gain ascendancy early on. Against Argentina earlier this year, the Boks showed how big an impact that can have on their performance. While I expect the Italians to fade and the Bok bench to make an impact, I feel the Italians will cover the 'cap, at 9/10.
Wales vs All Blacks
Wales haven't beaten the All Blacks in over 60 years. They aren't about to start now. On the occasion of Richie McCaw's 100th Test as captain, there will be only one outcome. The bookies are in agreement, and Wales find themselves 5/2 outsiders to rain on the Mighty McCaw's parade. The All Blacks have been restored to full strength after experimenting against Scotland, and should be back to their best. The 'cap currently stands at 13.5 (All Blacks to win by 14 points or more). I expect the All Blacks to cover it and finish the year on a high.
Keo's weekend picks
Wallabies @ 11/10
Italy (+19.5) @ 9/10
All Blacks (-13.5) @ 9/10
Treble odds 7/1
VOTE for YOUR winners in SA Rugby magazine's 2014 Fans' Awards!
Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images