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Just another day in the office for George against Canada

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Betting experts Chicken Dinner look ahead to Australia's match against Georgia

Canada vs Australia, Rugby World Cup, Saturday September 29, Pool B, Bordeaux.
Canada +38.5 points.

Current IRB world rankings, as of September 24: Australia 2, Canada 14

If there's one instrument that the Canadians must be used to playing, it's the second fiddle. Everyone moans about neighbours, but spare a thought for Canada the next time you're cursing about the noise coming through the wall. When families start behaving like the USA they get an ASBO slapped on them pretty quick. Yet the Canadians, to their credit, seem to revel in their overlooked status. Instead of walking round with a large chip on their shoulder, they instead view America with a detached, sense of amusement. Unlike most smaller countries bordering major powers, they actually feel superior to their neighbours (though it probably helps in this regard to have a significant French population).

Canadian rugby fans will be hoping that their team can retain a similar haughty attitude when taking on Australia. Fat chance. The Wallabies lead Pool B, Canada are propping it up. But can Canada preserve what's left of their pride, or will the Australian's knock up a score that their cricketers would be proud of? (You can get Canada +38.5 points on betfair at 3.3, Australia -38.5 points on betfair at 1.35)

The Aussies bounce into this match in typically bullish form, having strolled their opening three group games. In both the matches against Fiji and Japan they have notched up scores that would better this handicap. Prior to the World Cup, Australia proved themselves the equal to both New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations, winning both their home games and losing the return legs. This is the sort of exalted company they habitually keep and thus when they play the minnows of international rugby, it's just a matter of whether there'll be anything left of them once they've finished.

Twice winners of the tournament, Australia have won 27 of their total of 32 World Cup matches. Surprisingly though, they have only won 6 times by a figure larger than 38.5, with their average score being 36-13. The 2003 tournament on home soil, was the only one Word Cup in which they really scored heavily, warming up with a 90-8 win against Romania, before moving on to a gargantuan 142-0 triumph over Namibia.

Whilst the Australians warmed up for the World Cup with a Tri-Nations tournament, Canada qualified from a group containing USA and Barbados. Despite having to mingle with such rubbish, they have a plausible World Cup record, having reached the quarter finals in 1991. From their 13 defeats from 20 World Cup games, they have only once been beaten by a score bigger than 38.5 (New Zealand in 1993).

Canadian morale will not be helped by the demoralising last gasp try that they allowed Japan to score, to tie their last match. The schedulers have not helped either, putting the big teams on at the weekend to pull in the ratings, whilst put-upon Canada are forced to play midweek when everyone is watching Eastenders. Everything is against them. The only bright spot? The fact that their beloved neighbours will also get thrashed against South Africa on Sunday.