England’s triumphant two weeks has seen their odds of winning this year’s Rugby World Cup slashed from +600 to +400.
This by at least two of New Jersey’s nine sportsbooks, William Hill and 888sports
The reigning World Cup champions, New Zealand, continued to hold steady as the Garden State’s sportsbook favorite at -100.
And with Ireland drifting from +300 to +400, England are now the joint second favorites with the Irish.
And why not? Sure Ireland can boast of wins over New Zealand and South Africa in the past six months. They are also the reigning Six Nations Champions.
England were clearly the better side in Dublin.
But Eddie Jones Englishmen were clearly the superior side when they defeated the Irish 32-20 in Dublin 10 days ago.
The hungry English Lions were also extremely impressive when they roared on to whip France 44-8 a week later.
Indeed, Ireland, who made hard work of beating Scotland on Saturday, are perhaps, a little fortunate to be tied second.
The 3rd favorites at say +6000 ahead of South Africa (+850) might have been more appropriate.
As it is, though, Australia (+1200) is next after the Springboks on the bookies World Cup odds list.
And they are followed by dangerous outsiders like Wales at +1400, France at +2500, Scotland at +3500 and Argentina at +4000.
Big odds gap between stronger and weaker teams
The gap in the odds to the next group of rugby nations playing in World Cup in November is very wide.
Clearly, the bookmakers see no chance for teams like Italy, Japan, the USA, Fiji, and Russia.
England, the current Six Nations log leaders, are also the New Jersey sportsbooks’ favorites to win the European championship.
They are at -550, with Wales, the closest team behind them at +500. Ireland, a little surprisingly, is down to third at +1000.
Footnote: The former All Black player and head coach John Mitchell recently joined Eddie Jones’s England coaching team.
Could this have anything to do with the strong resurgence of the oldest and biggest rugby union in the world?
Odds to Win 2019 Rugby World Cup
(Start: Nov 02)
New Zealand +100 (110); Ireland +400; England +400; South Africa +850 (900), Australia +1200; Wales +1400; France +2500; Scotland +3500; Argentina +4000; Japan +25000, Fiji +30000; Samoa +50000; Tonga +75000; USA +75000; Italy +75000; Georgia +100000; Uruguay +300000; Russia +300000
Odds to Win 2019 Six Nations Championship
(Finishes March 16)
England -550, Wales +500, Ireland +1000, Scotland +4000, France +50000, Italy +50000.
