A year or so ago nobody was looking past New Zealand to win the 9th Rugby World Cup in Japan. They seemed pretty much of a certainty to pull-off this premier rugby event’s first hat-trick.
No longer. The All Blacks are still the world-wide favorites of leading international sportsbooks, but not overwhelmingly so. Since their recent defeats to South Africa and Australia, their aura of invincibility has slipped away.
South Africa, whom they meet in game one of Pool B Saturday, has suddenly emerged as a genuine threat.
From being +800 just a month or two back, the Springboks were now the joint-No 2 favorites with England at around +400 on Thursday.
Against this New Zealand were at +130 with Ireland and Wales, the other favorites to win their Pools, at around +900.
Erasmus behind South Africa’s climb back
Part of South Africa’s rapid, recent climb in the World Cup betting can be put down to their head coach “Rassie” Erasmus. His appointment two seasons ago has seriously advanced Springbok hopes of winning their third World Cup.
He has brought back some of their best players from Europe. He has instilled new fire and confidence into their game. And it has helped them become the champions of the Southern Hemisphere for the first time in a decade.
New Zealand, in the meantime, has unusually lost some of their gilt and glitter. There is even confusion about where their star player Beauden Barrett should be playing. Not everybody agrees that the man who took them to the top as a fly-half is now more valuable as a fullback.
The Rugby World Cup begins Friday, September 20.
Rugby’s World Cup, won thrice by the All Blacks, twice by the Springboks and the Wallabies and once by England begins Friday,
Japan, the first Asian country to host the event, will play the opening game against Russia at the Tokyo Stadium at 19.45h local time. Japan, ranked 10th in the World, will start this Pool A match with odds of +15000 as against Russia’s +500000.
On Saturday there are three Pool games. Australia plays Fiji in a Pool D game at Sapporo at 13.45 (local time).
Next, France plays Argentina in a Pool C game at Tokyo Stadium at 16.15 (local time).
Finally, reigning champions New Zealand take on South Africa in a Pool B game at the International Stadium in Yokohama at 18.45 (local time).
Here are the winner odds for all four Pools
POOL A
Ireland 5/18 (-360)
Scotland 4/1 (+400)
Japan 20/1 (+2000)
Russia 150/1 (+15000)
Samoa 150/1 (+15000)
POOL B
New Zealand 2/5 (-250)
South Africa 11/4 (+275)
Italy 500/1 (+50000)
Namibia 500/1 (+50000)
Canada 500/1 (+50000)
POOL C
England 2/5 (-250)
France 5/1 (+500)
Argentina 7/1 (+700)
USA 250/1 (+25000)
Tonga 250/1 (+25000)
POOL D
Wales 8/11 (-137)
Australia 11/10 (+110)
Fiji 40/1 (+4000)
Georgia 250/1 (+25000)
Uruguay 500/1 (+50000).
