A betting feast in LA!

After a short break, Sevens rugby returns to our screens this weekend for the fifth round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The players are off to Los Angeles and, as things stand, New Zealand have a nine-point lead at the top of the table over South Africa, with France a further 11 points back in third, England in fourth and Fiji in fifth – a distant of 23 points off the pace.

Looking at the series betting, New Zealand are 9/10, South Africa 2/1 and Fiji are still third favourites at 6/1, with 18/1 available about the balance.

Sevens rugby punting is not for everyone, but there are those who take it very seriously and have made good money over the years and, in particular, in this series to date.

@Sean_Nicholas and @Son_ of_a_Punt both post on the Goodforthegame Forum and can be followed on Twitter – and a more knowledgeable combination of sevens punters you will not find. They embrace the shorter matches and also that bookmakers do not have a lot of time to analyse the games in between rounds.

I am hoping to do a YouTube show with both of them, possibly tomorrow night.

Bookmakers are expecting Fiji to bounce back and have priced them as 26/10 favourites with the US, always strong on home soil, priced at 33/10. South Africa to be backed at 7/2 with New Zealand 4/1 and England at 8/1. You can get 11/1 and better the balance.

Looking at the Blitzboks chances, they have a fairly comfortable group with Kenya, Canada and Ireland and they are 1/12 to win it, although both Kenya and Canada have shown they are capable of causing upsets.

So, if you are up to it, strap yourself in and get ready to watch and punt on the Los Angeles Sevens.

Look out for a World Sports Betting promo where, if you back a team to win before the quarters and they lose in the semi-finals, you get refunded in free bets. Terms and conditions apply.