2019 Rugby World Cup Betting Preview
There are just three months to go until Japan becomes the centre of the rugby universe, with the World Cup kicking off in the Land of the Rising Sun on Friday, 20 September.
Although the World Cup is no stranger to the Pacific region, this is the first time in its history that the tournament is to be played in Asia. Rugby union has enjoyed a real surge in popularity in Japan in recent years.
Ahead of the tournament, this is our detailed look at the betting for the Rugby World Cup.
Pool A
Hosts Japan face a tough task to get out of their group despite home advantage because Northern Hemisphere opponents Ireland and Scotland are among the top eight rugby nations on earth.
The Celtic countries are expected to battle it out for top spot in Pool A, and Joe Schmidt’s Irish side are firm odds-on 1/4 favourites with Betway as of June 7 to emerge as group winners.
Scotland often threaten to put a string of results together, but can be found wanting. They conceded the first try in four of their five Six Nations Championship games earlier this year, and that means they’re always playing catchup.
The tartan team are 7/2 to shock Ireland and pip them to first place in Pool A. Joining Japan alongside them in this group are qualifiers Russia and fellow Pacific island nation Samoa.
The British Isles sides are strong contenders, and the only team with claims of reaching the business end of the tournament from this part of the draw are Ireland. They are 7/1 to lift the World Cup for the first time and 12/5 to reach the final.
Pool B
Defending champions New Zealand are widely expected to dominate their group and the tournament in general. The All Blacks remain top dogs in the rugby world rankings and are as short as 1/9 to win Pool B.
Long-serving coach Steve Hansen has been involved in consecutive World Cup triumphs, first on home soil back in 2011 and then in England four years ago. New Zealand have obviously evolved since then, but look as strong as ever, and they are the team to beat at 21/20 for the hat-trick.
An improving South Africa side under Rassie Erasmus are the only dangers in this group. The Springboks are back up to fifth in the world under their current boss, and they managed to edge the All Blacks in Wellington last September.
With South Africa at 5/1 to upset New Zealand and top the group, the Rainbow Nation must prove that their previous victory wasn’t just a fluke. Pool B also has Six Nations whipping boys Italy, Namibia and Canada who look straightforward enough for the heavyweights.
Pool C
England were infamously embarrassed four years ago when hosting the last Rugby World Cup, being eliminated early on at the pool stage. That cost Stuart Lancaster his job as head coach, and there have been subsequent periods of feast and famine under successor Eddie Jones.
If the Red Rose can avoid the complacency of 2015, then they are probably justified as 4/9 favourites to win Pool C, in which the main opposition is France and Argentina. England have the beating of both of those sides in recent encounters and are 5/1 chances to win a second Rugby World Cup and 11/4 to make the final.
There is little between Les Bleus (4/1 to win the group) and the Pumas (9/2) in the world rankings, but only two from these three established rugby nations can advance to the knockout phase. Pool C is completed by the USA and Tonga, who both had to qualify for their spots in Japan.
Pool D
Wales landed the Six Nations Grand Slam in the spring and sit second behind New Zealand in the world rankings. Warren Gatland’s side are a force to be reckoned with at home, but the Welsh Dragons must try and replicate the form in the Far East.
At 4/7 to win Pool D and 11/2 in the outright betting, Wales are well-fancied in their group ahead of an Australia outfit in disarray. The Wallabies have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons through the controversial end of full back Israel Folau’s career.
It leaves Michael Cheika short among the backs and, while Australia are 13/10 to overhaul the Welsh in the group, they are a massive 16/1 to win the Rugby World Cup for the third time and 9/2 to make the final again.
Those are bigger prices than fellow Southern Hemisphere heavyweights South Africa. Pool D also contains Fiji, Georgia and Uruguay who all exited the tournament after the groups four years ago.