by Brenden Nel 12 September 2013, 00:35 Article published in Supersport
Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship showdown may be played at a venue where the All Blacks haven’t lost since 1994, but the Springboks are getting plenty of support at the bookmakers to pull off a victory against the World Champions on Saturday.
According to bookmakers TAB, there is a lot of support coming in for the Boks to end the All Blacks' 19-year unbeaten run at Eden Park in Auckland.
As the clash nears, the last of the 48 500 tickets are set to be snapped up - making it the biggest crowd since the World Cup final in New Zealand. The Boks will take a big step towards the title if they can win their third consecutive match away from home.
The New Zealand Herald quoted TAB bookmaker Mark Stafford saying that with the Springboks in good form and All Black captain Richie McCaw out injured, New Zealanders were putting their money on the Springboks - who were on Wednesday at long odds of $3.30.
The All Blacks are paying $1.30 for the win.
"[The Boks] are in good nick and they haven't lost for a long time. People have seen the odds and are saying 'that can't be right' and they're putting money on it," he told the newspaper.
Money bet on a Springbok win was yesterday six times more than what had been placed on the All Blacks, Stafford said. The biggest punt so far was a $4 000 bet at $3.80 for a South African win - which, if successful, would pay about $15 000. (NZ$1=around R8)
"For the winning team and margin most of the money is again on South Africa for the win at 12 and under, then New Zealand at 12 and under and then South Africa 13 and over.
"Virtually no one has put money on New Zealand to win at 13 and over."
Meanwhile, the same newspaper reported that Eden Park marketing manager Grant McKenzie said interest in a game at the ground was probably the highest it had been since the All Blacks beat France 8-7 in the Rugby World Cup final two years ago.
McKenzie said less than 2 000 tickets were available for the match, which was almost certain to sell out.
"When Australia is very competitive, the Bledisloe Cup matches are very keenly anticipated," he said. "But this is absolutely shaping up to be a real battle."
Meanwhile, the weather seems to be on the move, and while it was bucketing down in Auckland on Thursday, the forecast is that it will be gone by Saturday evening. Temperatures will be in the single digits though, so while the test might not be wet, it will be cold.
MetService meteorologist John Law said there was a chance of showers and a southwesterly breeze, but overall it would not be a bad night to be sitting in the stands.
"The worst of the rain should clear away as we head into the weekend so for Saturday it's not really looking too bad. There are still a few showers around and there will be a southwesterly breeze for the game itself but it's just about dry at Eden Park,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
"The next couple of days we have some really fairly windy and wet weather for Auckland, the front is moving its way up the country ... but as the whole system pulls away you'll find an improving story for Friday which should be a pretty decent day."
