Wales are installed as match favourites

WALES have been installed as favourites to beat Australia this weekend with just about every bookmaker available.

That is likely to come as a surprise to followers of Welsh rugby, who will note the dismal record Warren Gatland’s men hold against the Wallabies.

They have been unable to get across the line against the Green and Gold in their last 13 matches, a run that stretches back to Gatland’s first year in charge 10 years ago.

Wales got their autumn series off to a winning start as they beat Scotland 21-10 in Cardiff last Saturday.

However, despite their grim run of results against the Aussies, all bookmakers listed with Oddschecker have Wales as the favourites to emerge victorious against Michael Cheika’s side.

Blacktype (17/20) are offering the best odds on a Wales victory, while you can get as good as 13/10 with Betfair for an Aussie victory.

However, the bookies clearly think it will be a closely fought contest.

Sky Bet are offering odds of 9/2 for Warren Gatland’s side to triumph by one to five points while Australia are 5/1 to emerge victorious by the same margin.

The reason, as explained by one industry insider, is that betting shops tend to focus on teams’ recent form and past meetings between the two are not held in the highest regard.

Wales head into Saturday’s meeting at the Principality Stadium having won their last six matches in a row, while Australia lost four of their six Rugby Championship matches over the summer, finishing third in the fourteam competition.

Based on that logic, you could see why bookmakers might have Wales as favourites but there is also something called ‘arbing’ to consider.

If one bookmaker was to buck the betting trend and make Australia the favourites, it creates the possibility for punters to make money whatever the results.

Somebody could back Australia with the bookmaker, then lay them on an exchange website like Betfair to ensure they win whatever happens.

Whichever way you slice it, seeing Wales as favourites for their second autumn international across the board goes down as a surprise.

Wales v Australia odds (Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing):

Wales win 4/6, Draw 20/1, Australia win 11/10.