Rugby World Cup: All Black Dagg can boost try bid against Canada

/ Geoffrey Riddle / 01 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Is Dagg a top try contender?

"Kieran Read, the No 8, has returned to fitness and will start his first Rugby World Cup match."

Even without their two talismen, New Zealand's form is ominous for everyone else and they should make hay against Canada, says Geoffrey Riddle.

New Zealand v Canada, Sunday 03:30 (ITV1)

New Zealand

New Zealand have opened the scoring in their last two matches with a try.

The All Blacks have scored the first match try in eight of their last nine fixtures.

Canada

Canada have scored the first points of the match in all three of their World Cup fixtures.

They also scored the first try of the match against Japan and Tonga. The first try in their three matches has come before the 12th minute.

Canada have missed eight kicks at goal.

All four tries Canada conceded against France were scored by back three players. Vincent Clerc scored a hat-trick of tries and Damien Traille was playing at full-back.

Prop Hubert Buydens made 15 tackles against France and centre Ryan Smith made 14 in the same match. In the 25-20 victory over Tonga Jamie Cudmore made 23 tackles, Adam Kleeberger made 14 tackles and Jebb Sinclair put in 10 - almost half of the team total.

Match stats

Dan Carter and Richie McCaw were named in the starting XV but after injuries to both, they're replaced by Colin Slade and Victor Vito respectively. Kieran Read, the No 8, has returned to fitness and will start his first Rugby World Cup match.

Kieren Crowley, the Canada coach, has once again named the best side available to him. He has been forced to replace James Pritchard, the team's kicker, with Conor Trainor, due to a bang to the head. Canada have five players in their squad who will have not played a match at the tournament.

Preview

Unfortunately for the Canadians, the All Blacks are strong where they are weak. The Canucks like to impose themselves physically on teams and keep play narrow by tackling anything that moves.

Although their back row is robust, they do not create turnover ball, and if anything, leak it and as such they are prone to counter-attacks by wings and fullbacks joining the line.

Canada have been given a ray of hope after Richie McCaw and Dan Carter pulled out, which means turnover possession will be a little slower for the All Blacks and will be used a little less precisely by Colin Slade, Carter's replacement.

With New Zealand looking in ominous form ahead of the knockout stages it may be worth a small investment in Israel Dagg to be the top tournament tryscorer. Dagg, who recovered from a deep thigh bruise, has collected four tries, two behind Chris Ashton after his touchdown against Scotland. Dagg could be the prime beneficiary of Sonny Bill Williams's offloading game and New Zealand should have the easiest quarter-final against Argentina. Either that, or lay Ashton at around [3.0].

Recommended investment: (1-5pt staking plan)
2pts I Dagg top tournament tryscorer at around [5.0]

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World Cup Betting: Canada v Kenya

Match Previews / Ed Hawkins / 06 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Steve Tikolo be in the runs against Canada?

"Canada's head-to-head record against the Kenyans is impressive. They have won their last three; by three, six and nine wickets respectively."

Ed Hawkins has identified Canada as a value bet for this contest in Delhi on Monday with their African opponents failing to impress

London start time: 09.00

Team news
Kenya and Canada meet in what both teams will probably regard as their most important match of the tournament. The losers can be sure of the 'weakest team' tag.

Canada have at least caused a Test side problems, but Kenya have done nothing of the sort. The Canadians troubled Pakistan and count themselves unlucky that they came up against a combination Shahid Afridi and UDRS.

John Davison, the 40-year-old opener who shot to prominence with a quick ton against West Indies in the 2003 jamboree, is a doubt with a groin problem. He missed the match against Pakistan. Nitish Kumar, 16, will continue in the opening berth.

The Obuya boys, Collins and David, are the only Kenyan batsmen to show decent form. They both scored 50s against Sri Lanka.

Venue and conditions
The Feroz Shah Kotla has staged only two matches so far and both saw West Indies bat first. The Windies were going well against South Africa before the spinners got hold of them and they collapsed to 222 all out. But against the Netherlands they posted 330. It would suggest quality spin makes a difference. That won't be on display today.

Match odds
Kenya are as short as [1.85] for victory and although they are ranked two places above Canada, we cannot reckon that is value. Kenya have been pathetic in each of their three outings and we would be more comfortable with their odds if this was an even-money affair.

Instead we'll happily back Canada at [2.14]. Don't go nuts with your stakes, however. Backing Canada to win a cricket match is far from an exact science.

But we have seen enough to call them as value. Against Pakistan they bowled with discipline while they at least had a spell in the game against Zimbabwe when they reduced their opponents to seven for two.

Their head-to-head record against the Kenyans is also impressive. They have won their last three; by three, six and nine wickets respectively.

Top batsman - Canada
Zubin Surkari is one to watch. He top scored the last time the sides met in July. He'll go off at around [5.50]. Davison, if fit, comes under Any Other, which is priced at [3.00]. Jimmy Hansra, at around [5.00] is their top runscorer in the tournament.

Top batsman - Kenya
There doesn't seem much point in looking past the Obuya brothers and Steve Tikolo. Collins is expected to be available at [4.50] and David [6.00]. Tikolo is a [6.50] chance.

Featured market
190, 153, 113, 189, 230 are the last five first-innings totals in matches between these two (the first three by Kenya). It would be a surprise if a total of 250 was posted first up on a tacky surface.

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Cricket World Cup Betting: Canada v Zimbabwe

Match Previews / Andrew Hughes / 27 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Back Brendan to top score

"Brendon Taylor is the classiest bat in the Zimbabwe line-up and though he struggled against Australia’s pace bowlers, Canada’s medium pace dobblers should be much more to his liking."

Both these teams were thrashed in their opening fixtures but this is a chance for two of the Group A minnows to get a win on the board

London Start Time: 04:00
Venue and Conditions
A slow but true pitch and a fast outfield had characterised the three ODIs played at this ground, including England's win over Netherlands last week. So Friday's low scoring affair between Australia and New Zealand was a slight surprise, as was the variable bounce. That said, even if the pitch is wearing a little, neither of these sides have the quick bowlers to exploit it in the way that Australia did.

Team News
Canada opted to protect their talented youngsters Hiral Patel and Nitish Kumar for their opening game against Sri Lanka, but after a woeful batting performance, both are likely to get their chance here. Zimbabwe will probably be unchanged, though they may consider bringing all-rounder Greg Lamb for Regis Chakabva.

Match Odds
This is an intriguing match-up between two improving Associate teams. Though both were blown away by top class seam and pace bowling in their opening games, it has to be remembered that they were up against two of the tournament favourites. Canada do have one or two exciting young batsmen and could cause a surprise here, but at [1.23] I'm going to side with Zimbabwe, who have the stronger bowling and who put in a sparkling fielding performance against Australia.

Top Batsman
Rizwan Cheema caught the headlines pre-tournament with his innings against England and top scored against Sri Lanka, but the reliable selection in the Canadian line up is dependable accumulator Ashish Bagai, who can be backed at [5.5]

Brendan Taylor is the classiest bat in the Zimbabwe line-up and though he struggled against Australia's pace bowlers, Canada's medium pace dobblers should be much more to his liking. He should be backed at [4.0] or better

Featured Market
The average number of fours in ODIs at this ground is 50 so you should consider backing '50 or more' in the Total Fours market at [2.25] or better

Best Bet

Back Brendan Taylor to top score for Zimbabwe at [4.0]

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