All Blacks coach Steve Hansen didn’t think Saturday’s test in Wellington would be a significant pointer to next month’s World Cup.
“I guess it will give whoever wins a little confidence going into the World Cup. However it won’t mean whoever wins this one will automatically win the one in the World Cup,” he told reporters.
He was referring, of course, to the next big clash between the present and former World Champions in Japan. New Zealand, the holders, have won the Cup three times, South Africa and Australia twice each and England once.
The Boks and the All Blacks are in Pool B at this World Cup and are scheduled to meet on Day 2, August 23, this year.
“In the big scheme, it gives everyone a chance to have a look at each other and feel each other out. I don’t think it’s going to affect the World Cup, no.”
As it turned out, the Springboks again surprised the World’s no 1 ranked-team playing at home. They didn’t manage a win as they did there last year, but they did snatch a last-gasp draw. And if anything, it left South Africa sportsbook operators with red faces.
Before kick-off in Wellington they were so sure the Kiwis would win, they’d made them strong favorites at 11/50.
The odds on a New Zealand-South African draw were 25/1
The odds on SA winning stood at 13/4 but you could have made good money if you’d backed a draw. The odds on this eventuality stood at 25/1.
But that’s all over. What matters now are the consequences – and there are some, in spite of what Hanson said.
New Zealand, in the eyes of New Jersey’s sportsbooks, remains the favorites to retain the World Cup. However, from odds of +110 in March, they have eased out to +125.
The odds on the Springboks, whose defensive strategy last Saturday will be of some concern to NZ, have meanwhile shortened. They’ve gone from +800 to +600. They’ve also lifted the Boks from 5th favorite into third place behind England, who have gone to +500 after being at +400.
Ireland, who last season also beat the All Blacks, have slipped back on NJ sportsbooks’ betting lists. They’ve gone from 3rd place at +450 into a fourth-place tie with Wales at +700.
Wales, who won the Six Nations Championship earlier this year, were surprisingly in 5th place at +10000 in March.
Another upwardly mobile nation among the 20 contesting this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan is Argentina. They’ve hoisted themselves from 9th place at +40000 to 7hplace at +30000.
Despite their handsome home win over Argentina on Saturday, Australia’s odds have worsened from +1200 to +1400. They’ve remained firmly in 6th place on the NJ bookmakers’ lists of favorites, however.
Also on the slide among genuine contenders are France (+3000 to +3300) and Scotland (+3000 to +40000). The lowest teams on the sportsbooks rosters were Uruguay, Namibia, and Russia, all at +500000 (500/1)
All the latest odds
Here are the latest odds on all 20 teams contesting the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The figures in brackets were their odds, where available, in March this year. They indicate which of them have strengthened their chances and which have weakened them.
NEW ZEALAND +125 (+110
ENGLAND +500 (+400)
SOUTH AFRICA +600 (+800)
IRELAND +700 (+450)
WALES +700 (+1000)
AUSTRALIA +1400 (+1200)
ARGENTINA +3000 (+4000)
FRANCE (+2200) +3300
SCOTLAND +4000 (+3000)
JAPAN +20000 (+20000)
FIJI +35000 (+30000)
SAMOA +50000 (+50000)
ITALY +50000 (+75000)
GEORGIA +75000 (+75000)
TONGA +100000
USA +150000
CANADA +250000
URUGUAY +500000
NAMIBIA +500000
RUSSIA +500000
The World Cup Pools
And here are the four Rugby World Cup pools
POOL A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia and Samoa.
POOL B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada.
POOL C: England, France, Argentina, United States, Tonga
POOL D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay.
