BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS VS SOUTH AFRICA TEST MATCH BETTING

The Springboks go into their match-up with British & Irish Lions as 1/3 favourites to secure the test match victory. Lions are carrying an enticing 9/4 price if they can turn things around, but after only drawing in mid-week with Emerging Springboks, you have to wonder whether the Lions will be able to finish the job in this match. Top UK bookmaker Ladbrokes has set the handicap at South Africa (-8.0) and I think that's about right. You'll find both teams at 10/11 on the 8 point handicap, but Ladbrokes has a few other variations that will tell you a thing or two about how this one is expected to pan out. South Africa (-10.0) is 6/5 while South Africa (-5.0) is a mere 4/6. South Africa (-20.0) is only 7/2. It is pretty clear that the bookies expect South Africa to run up the score a bit here. If England can pull this one off, punters definitely stand to make a few quid. South Africa to win both halves pays out at 8/13 and that's about as good as you'll get on them. Lions to win both halves pays out at a measley 4/1. Draw/South Africa is an enticing 18/1 and I think that's a fairly solid bet considering the price. Habana, Pietersen and Jacobs are the favoured first tryscorers for South Africa at 8/1, 10/1 and 14/1, respectively. Williams, Bowe, Fitzgerlad and O'Driscoll are the favourite first tryscorers for England at 12/1, 14/1 and 16/1. Habana is at evens to score anytime while Pietersen is 11/8. Bowe carries a 15/8 price while De Villiers and Fitzgerlad are listed together at 9/4. If you're looking to back the nationality of the 1st Lions tryscorer, you can back an Irishman at 5/6, a Welshman at 11/4, an Englishman at 10/1 and a Scot at 25/1. There is also match play between some of the players to see who will score more points. Pienaar is favoured at 8/15 over Stephen Jones at 11/8. If Lions hold a lead at any point in the match, you'll get paid out at ½. If South Africa score a try first and Lions win the match, you're looking at 6/1. There's a number of match specials listed at Ladbrokes, so be sure to check them out!