Betting Update; Rugby World Cup’s Top Points Scorers
Added: (Fri Sep 07 2007)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
DESPITE Jonny Wilkinson's ankle injury Hills remain a stand-out 11-10 about Dan Carter being the top tournament points-scorer. Smash them into line or take anything bigger than 4-6 as only serious injury or a quarter-final disaster for the All Blacks should prevent it from copping.
Especially with doubts surrounding his main rivals. With a back injury, Stirling Mortlock is not sure to have the kicking-duties for Australia and could well be rested for one of the Wallabies' expected Group B routs.
The French have a yankee of reliable potters in their stable in the shape of Frederik Michalak, David Skrela, Lionel Bauxis and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and could also give Cedric Heymans a go if he threatens Simon Culhane's World Cup game individual points record haul of 45 against Georgia or Namibia.
Percy Montgomery, used increasingly as a line-breaking runner by the Springboks and top Tri-Nations points-scorer in both 2004 and 2005, does appear to be a better player after his return from Wales and the international wilderness.
However, the many flaky moments that bedevilled his early career and the fiery temperament that saw him 'push' a touch judge when playing for the Newport-Gwent Dragons could return at any time in the cauldrons that will undoubtedly be Group clashes with England, Tonga and Samoa and possibly a quarter-final against the Wallabies.
He was also sent off for two yellow cards with ten minutes left in a win against Wales in Cardiff in November 2005 when the contest was a lot closer than the 33-16 scoreline suggests.
But back to the crafty New Zealand pivot, who some in Land of the Long White Cloud circles are already more than whispering as the greatest-ever.
Carter should keep racking up the points, even if under-study Nick Evans takes to the field against puny Portugal, as the favourites progress and not just with the metronomic swing of his size-11s either.
Carter has crossed the whitewash 20 times in just 41 caps with seven coming in the last 14 months (one each against Argentina, England, France and South Africa as well as the hat-trick against Canada in June). He also bagged a brace against the 2005 British Lions in the second Test in Wellington. If Ronan O'Gara or one of the outsiders bests him, it will feel like a bad beat.
• All prices correct at time of writing.
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