Rugby Exclusive

International All Sports (IAS) Limited hails itself as Australia’s first licensed, and listed international bookmaker. To be fair, IAS is still pretty much the same as most other online bookmakers, offering a similar array of events available, such as international horse racing, greyhound racing, world sports, north American sports and entertainment events.

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But what sets www.iasbet.com apart from others online sites is the availability of a 24/7 telephone helpdesk, and multi-lingual speaking operators. The high population of non native speakers in Australia will definitely welcome this service. Another interesting thing is that it offers a “live help” service that allows you to chat with a customer service person. Upon trying, the lady/guy on the opposite end was helpful, engaging and knowledgeable about odds on most games. Another thing that puts IAS above the rest is unlike some other betting and gaming companies, IASbet does not charge fees on most transactions, most of the time, you are able to withdraw funds at no additional costs. IAS accepts a wide range of payments including credit cards, bank transfer, money orders and cheques etc.

The layout of the website is fool proof enough, and easy to navigate. The website is uncluttered and unlike most sites, it is free of irritating banners that makes some websites an eyesore.

There are also some interesting events you can bet on, one example is the location of the 2016 Olympic games, winner of the 2008 Australian idol and Miss World 2008.

All in all, it’s a well rounded site that offers a easy way to put your bets through, and good customer service certainly does help!

Don’t be fooled by the “sport” in sportingbet.com. Once you enter the site, you will probably be inclined to think it’s a football betting site. Yes, there are plenty of sports available for you to put your money on, be it football, horse racing, tennis or even politics, yes, politics is interestingly classed as “sports” on this website allowing you to bet on the 2012 presidential elections.

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The site is truly multinational, offering 21 other languages other than English, although strangely, there is no Mandarin version available, given the Chinese usual inclination to gamble, which may turn many Chinese customers away.

The standard payment options are accepted, including major credit cards, through moneybrokers, Neteller and ClickToPay. The website offers a lot more other than sports. You can play on the online casino, poker, games and the newly added financials.

The financials function allows you bet on the settlement levels of the FTSE100 on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). This ensures that at most times, there is always live action. Of course, the LSE doesn’t operate 24/7, nor are there matches available to always satisfy your itching finger. The solution is video games. The idea is you play for money using your favorite video games such as UTour Golf. Strangely, it can be more addictive than betting on games, because it is not a one-off event. Once you lost the game (and your money) you will be surely motivated to beat your virtual competitor and cut your losses. Addictive? Yes. Lots of fun? Hell yea!

Australian Rugby Betting - Rugby is a huge favourite for fans and punters alike, and is constantly ranked among the top 5 in the world’s top spectator sports. If you travel to a semi-major country, you can almost certainly find a rugby team. On the same note, there is no lack of sites that allow all these spectators to put their money at where their mouth is.

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If you are starting out and is just looking for something basic, easy to use, and accepts the US dollar and/or sterling, “http://www.bet365.com” is a good place to begin. It offers a 15% initial bonus and a live in play service that allows you to be updated in real time. The website is well designed, clutter free and will have you parting (or winning) with your money in no time.

If you are with a mate and wants to piggy back ride on his/her bet, try “http://www.victorchandler.co.uk” This site similar offers live updates and will match the value of your first bet with a free bet of up to £ 50 (or currency equivalent)

One of the main problems associated with online bookies is the odds that are offered. Well, the solution is on “http://www.betfair.com”, the unique thing about this website is it allows you to make or take your own odds, effectively allowing you take the bookie position. Of course, this will only work if someone is willing to take up your odds position.

Lastly, if you’re sick of taking sides, look to “http://www.coral.co.uk” that allows spread betting, which basically asks you to make a prediction about a certain aspect of a game, e.g. how many goals will be scored.

Australian Rugby Betting - Rugby is becoming an increasingly sport and is slowly but surely catching up with football, both in terms of viewer ship and betting volumes. A quick search on Google will come up with an exhaustive list of sites, some dodgy, while others like “http://www.sportingbet.com.au” are licensed and offer a secure and fun way to add an edge to watching the game.

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Other online betting sites that include rugby are also gaining popularity in the region. These include the publicly listed “http://www.centerbet.com/rugby-union-betting”. Centerbet has odds on all major competitions including the Rugby World Cup, Tri Nations and English Guinness Premiership.

Moving away from Australia, you will find an even wider source of providers in the UK. “http://www.bet365.com” will allow you to bet in your choice of currency, and like sportingbet, will forward a free signup bonus. Another popular site is “http://paddypower.com”, which is a well designed site offering odds on major rugby competitions as well.

If tradition is your cup of tea, William Hill (http://dgm2.com), a long standing British bookmaker that has been around and enjoys a good reputation with punters especially in the United Kingdom.

For those who are jittery about placing bets online, or have security concerns, Coral Eurobet (http://www.coral.co.uk) prides itself as a safe and secure online site with excellent customer service. Its webpage is also easy to navigate, and offers online gambling (e.g. poker) in addition to mainstream sports betting services.

Understandably, there are some out there who don’t approve of bookies, or the odds that are being given on the web. Bet Fair (http://www.qksrv.net) offers person to person rugby union betting, that allows you to take or make your own odds.

www.iasbet.com - Where and When: Saturday 8 November, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEST)

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Past Three Head-to-Head
Gold Coast Blaze 90-107 South Dragons, Round 3 2008.
Gold Coast Blaze 127-116 South Dragons, Round 12 2007.
South Dragons 79-99 Gold Coast Blaze, Round 9 2007.

Season Series
Dragons 1-0

Current Standings
Dragons 8-2 (first), Blaze 1-10 (10th)

The Gold Coast will head into Saturday night’s clash against the top-of-the-table South Dragons with some confidence after finally breaking through for their first win of the season on Wednesday against the Townsville Crocodiles

Shane Heal was influential in his side’s win over the Crocodiles, dropping 26 points.

The 38-year-old will be keen to perform well once again against his old side and help keep the Blaze’s slim finals hopes alive.

It may be top versus bottom but the South Dragons are far from unbeatable.

The Dragons got out of jail against Sydney in round seven - they trailed early in the final term before Nathan Herbert sparked his team into action, scoring 13 of his 19 points in the last quarter to inspire his side to an 11-point win.

The last time these two sides met at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in round three, the Dragons had six players in double figures with Boomer Mark Worthington leading the way with 20 points.

Expect the Blaze to be more competitive now than they were earlier in the year against the ladder leaders given that they have finally gotten the monkey off their back but the Dragons have too many scoring options for Brendan Joyce’s men to contain.

The Gold Coast are certainly capable of causing an upset but the Dragons depth should prove to be the difference in what will be a closer contest than the ladder position of both sides suggests.

Money on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85 is worth a punt.

www.iasbet.com  - THE AFC Champions League received a huge boost on Tuesday with the prize money for next season’s revamped tournament massively increased to US$14 million

Asia’s top club competition will be expanded from 28 to 32 teams in 2009, but with stricter criteria for participation in an effort to raise standards.

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Mr Tokuaki Suzuki, deputy chief of the AFC’s Professional League Project, said the extra money on offer would provide clubs with motivation to meet the new requirements to compete.

‘The new budget means there is much, much more revenue for clubs participating in the tournament,’ Mr Suzuki said at an AFC managers seminar here.

‘This will give clubs the incentive to be more professional so they meet the requirements to take part in the competition.’

The total budget for 2009 is US$20 million, dwarfing the US$4.0 million available for this year’s event.

Of that, 70 per cent is dedicated to prize money and incentives, with the eventual winners taking home US$1.5 million plus bonuses from earlier rounds. A victory in the group stages will be worth US$40,000.

‘This means that even if a team cannot qualify for the round of 16, they still have an incentive to do well in the group matches,’ said Mr Suzuki.

The AFC is attempting to make football in the region more professional and has laid down tough new rules for entry into the 2009 Champions League.

Teams wishing to play have had to satisfy the governing body that they meet certain standards regarding team affairs, attendances, marketing, stadiums, and media arrangements.
So far only 11 countries have made the grade, with just one - Japan’s J-League - satisfying all criteria.

www.sportingbet.com - In a perfect start to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, CSC Saxo Bank rider Matt Goss has taken out the Inverloch – Warrigul Stage.

After taking out yesterday’s criterium at Traralgon, Goss now has two wins from two starts after winning the opening stage in a closely contested sprint.

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With just a few hundred metres to go, Savings and Loan’s Joels Pearson and Drapak Porsche’s Mitchell Docker looked to make a move but were well cover by Goss and Barloworld’s Baden Cooke.

The twenty-two year-old Tasmanian now has a good hold on the leader’s jersey but it is certainly very early days yet.

Joel Pearson sits ninth in the overall classification which is a miracle in itself given that the twenty-five year-old was in a coma just over five months ago.

Pearson was riding for French team Cote’s de Amore when he was involved in an horrific car accident which left him in a coma for more than three weeks.

He returned to Melbourne in late may to resume physio and was back on his bike in June.

In his first race back, Pearson finished fourth out of a field of over 200 quality riders from right around the world.

In one of the toughest events on the Australian Cycling calender, Pearson sent out a warning to his competitors that he’s not just back to make up the numbers.

Rated as one of the hottest sprinters in this year’s tour, Pearson featured in the preface (44km Criterium Race in Traralgon) grabbing a top 20 finish – just two seconds off the pace.

In what will be a triumphant homecoming, Joel will ride in the second stage tomorrow, finishing on the main street of his home town Warragul.

The lead up to this year’s Rugby League Grand Final has provided more controversy than any match in the history of the competition.

In a war of words that has seen the two players suspended and a club slapped with the heftiest fine on record, the fuse is lit for an explosive encounter at ANZ Stadium.

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Both sides will no doubt be even money going into Sunday nights clash although Manly may have a slight edge given that their recent form has been slightly more consistent than the Storm.

The Storm’s shock loss to the Warriors two weeks ago set them up for a tight encounter in Brisbane wish saw Cameron Smith suspended along with Jeremy Smith for a tackle that will go down in history as one of the most controversial tackles of all time.

Manly Coach Des Hasler has attributed Manly’s success to date to their toughness up forward and their consistent defense.

Manly carry the tag of sentimental favourite with old foes such as Parramatta and Western Sydney uniting in their apparent hatred for the team from down south.

It appears that the comments of Craig Bellamy and Brian Walßdron have brought the game into disrepute and united fans and players across Sydney.

Storm players and staff have been labeled irrational and ’bordering on hysterical’ over their reaction to Cameron Smith’s hearing which the labeled “a trial by media’.

Regardless, the Storm have a long list of super stars and game breakers that took them to a premiership last year and three successive minor premierships.

Manly are perhaps the most consistent, team oriented club in the competition and after a dismal performance in last year’s big game they will be looking to turn things around.

Melbourne will suffer from the disruptions to their preparation and manly will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last year.

Manly may just sneak away with a famous victory here and give Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies a dream send-off.

www.lasserters.com.au - Wallabies test prop Ben Alexander has to be one of, if not the feel good story of the year.

Alexander, who played his schoolboy rugby at Knox Grammar in Sydney’s North, debuted against France back in June.

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The 120-kilo forward relished the last ten minutes of the game (his first ten minutes for Australia), capitalizing on a tired French forward pack to put up some very solid defense.

Ben has since been a regular on the training track, narrowly missing selection in his next two games only to be recalled as the Wallabies traveled to south Africa in August.

In 2004 Ben was playing Rugby of the UC (University of Canberra) Owls and was selected on a short list for the Brumby Runners squad.

After a fine season he joined the Canberra Vikings in the local Rugby Competition and dominated his first few games.

However, Ben’s footballing career was nearly cut tragically short when he snapped his leg in half playing making a regulation tackle.

He suffered complications during surgery that nearly lead to is death and immerged from hospital having lost over a quarter of his body weight.

Plenty of hard work and determination saw Ben return to the game on a single season contract playing for English club Bedford.

Regaining form and confidence, he returned to Australia to the first ever season of ARC, playing for the Western Sydney Rams along side the likes of Curtley Beale.

Alexander flourished in the ARC, scoring several tries and forcing the ACT Brumbies to stand up and take notice.

He debuted for the Brumbies earlier this year and just 6 minutes into his stint off the bench he crashed over for a try.

Not a minute goes by when he doesn’t feel like pinching himself.

“Just three years ago I couldn’t walk and thought I’d never play footy again. Now I’m pulling on the green and gold and playing alongside my childhood heroes. It’s the best feeling.”

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With last week’s defeat at the hands of the New Zealand All Black’s and the defeat by Australia in the last meeting between these two in the Tri Nations tournament the pressure really is starting to mount on the shoulders of new South African coach Peter De Villiers to get some good results for the reigning World Champions and bring a smile to the Springbok fans who are starting to worry about the future of their team especially after their first defeat on home soil without scoring a point in last week’s 19-0 defeat by the All Blacks.

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The game in Durban on Saturday is just as important for the wallabies to win as well because if they were to lose that would signal the end of their Tri Nations hopes with the All Blacks currently five points ahead although having played two games more than Australia.

South Africa at the minute are rooted to the bottom of the table having only accumulated 4 points from their four games and only having the win against the All Blacks 30-28 which was on New Zealand soil to show for all their hard efforts.

But as a game on Saturday I expect the Aussies to take control of the game pretty early on and to eventually have too much power for the Springboks winning the game by between 6 and 10 points, and with the two due to lock horns next week also in South Africa I think Australia will make sure that the game against New Zealand on September 13th on home soil is a winner takes all affair.