Autumn Internationals Week 5 – Ireland vs Australia: predictions, odds and betting tips

It’s the final week of the Autumn Internationals and there is only one match but it’s set to close the end-of-year series in spectacular style.

Let’s see how the bookies rate the two teams in this final weekend of action and where the money should go.

Here are our predictions and odds from top rated rugby betting sites:

Autumn Internationals Rugby Week 5 predictions

Scotland defeated Australia last week in Edinburgh to deprive us of the perfect set up this week which would have been the Wallabies remaining undefeated and arriving in Dublin on the brink of repeating the famous 1984 Grand Slam.

But, nonetheless, we have much to look forward to on Saturday afternoon and much to ponder at the end of five weeks of international action.

With the Six Nations Championship starting in just two months, the French look worthy favourites, Scotland and England will be partially revived by their wins last week, and the Welsh need to lick their many wounds, but the Irish have one last chance to remind everyone of their quality - and perhaps their position as Europe’s strongest outfit.

🏉 Ireland vs Australia

Ireland were runaway winners against Fiji last week which was a result that only somewhat atoned for the loss to New Zealand and the narrow defeat of Argentina. Andy Farrell will be asking tough questions of his squad this week because he wants - and needs - to see them perform against the strongest opposition.

As a tasty sidedish, Farrell will be the head coach on next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia so this fixture can be seen a prologue to that bigger clash.

The players, too, will also recognise Saturday as a great chance to further their claims for a tour spot. Australia will be a little deflated by defeat to the Scots last week, but that future Lions clash should whet their appetite and provide motivation for the final game of this tour.

Ireland vs Australia odds

Here are the latest match odds for Ireland vs Australia from Betfred.

• Ireland: 1/9
• Draw: 22/1
• Australia: 13/2

Australia (+15.5pts) to win the Handicap

The nature of this fixture has changed in recent times to reflect the current strength of Irish rugby. Because while Ireland have won only 14 of the 37 matches between the two sides, they have won six of the last eight. Moreover, they are favourites this week because they produce consistently good rugby against world class opposition while this current Aussie set-up are capable of both competing (and winning) against the best sides, but also being beaten by them (sometimes heavily).

The books recognise this but they are also going against history in offering this handicap. In Ireland’s 14 wins against Australia, two were by a margin of 15 points but the other 12 were all by nine points or less. Put simply, this bet would have landed in all 37 matches between these two teams and it helps that the Aussie coach Joe Schmidt knows Irish rugby inside out from his time in charge of the national team. 

Bet on Australia (+15.5pts) to win the Handicap at 10/11 with Sky Bet

Mack Hansen anytime try scorer 

In returning to Hugo Keenan, Jame Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park in key positions in the back division, Farrell is going for his big guns. Rather than side with Lowe to score we’ll go for his fellow winger Mack Hansen to cross the white line. He’s scored a try in five of his last eight matches for Ireland and he has extra incentive to shine on Saturday because he was born in the Aussie capital city Canberra and will be desperate to return there as a Lion in the summer. A good performance this week will help. He’s odds on in places so the odds against is well worth backing.

Bet on Mack Hansen Anytime Try Scorer at 5/4 with Paddy Power