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If you thought New Zealand was a tad lucky to get home in the first one-day cricket international against South Africa in Dunedin, you were 100 per cent correct.

People say that the sporting nation which hates losing the most is Australia. That's wrong.

The South Africans are twice as mean and twice as hungry for victory on the international sporting stage. I've never seen a nation that detests losing like they do.

You only had to look into captain Hansie Cronje's eyes with four overs to go last Sunday evening to see that he still expected to win the event, even with Chris Harris and Dion Nash at the crease and New Zealand needing less than a run a ball for victory.

I thought he had more chance of climbing Mount Everest in bare feet at the time, but that's the attitude of this well-drilled South African unit which showed at Jade Stadium on Wednesday night just why they are joint favourite for this year's World Cup -- they are VERY good!

The one-day series will work in favour of South Africa.

By the end of the test series they will have worked out all of the Kiwi batsmen's idiosyncrasies and should win the final three one dayers comfortably.

With this in mind, I've wagered on the Proteas to win the series 5-1 at $4.50 and 4-2 at $2.75.

My advice to punters betting on a series such as this is to give yourself two chances. You can return a 75 per cent profit on your investment by backing both options to win the same amount -- it makes a lot of sense.

The other sporting event which is under way at the moment is the Five Nations rugby championship. As usual, it will turn into a two-horse race between England and France and I have sided with England this year as they play the match against France at Twickers. The giant English pack will no doubt gain the lion's share of possession, which will probably be wasted, but they will tackle everything in a blue jersey and will slot all available penalties.

I've bet on England at Centrebet (in Australia) at $2.10. The TAB is a bit skinny, offering $1.75 for England to win the championship, but at least you'll be on a winner.

A lot of people ask me how you can make money by betting on sport. So in next week's column I'll steer you in the right direction -- then it's up to you!

Graham Bruton, New Zealand's biggest sports better, offers his view on punting-to-win each Friday in The Press.