Australia Rugby World Cup Odds: What Betting Price Are The Wallabies?
It might have been a difficult few years for them on the field of play, but with a familiar face back in the coaching box, Australia are garnering the attention of betting sites in advance of this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
Despite only assuming the reins in the aftermath of the 2019 finals in Japan, Dave Rennie was relieved of his duties as Wallabies head coach at the beginning of this year.
His record in the hot seat across 34 tests stood at 13 wins, three draws and 18 defeats.
Outside of five consecutive victories in 2021 – a run that saw them moving up to third spot in the world rankings – Rennie’s tenure was blighted by inconsistency.
While England, Argentina, South Africa, Scotland and Wales were accounted for in 2022, the Aussies also suffered nine defeats in that calendar year.
This included a 28-27 reversal to Italy in Florence on November 12, when Rennie was heavily criticised for fielding a second-string outfit.
However, there are some who feel that the New Zealander was hard done by, particularly when the performances in his final two tests were quite strong.
Massive Sea Change With Coaches In Various Nations
They surprised online rugby betting sites by losing narrowly to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and Australia claimed a morale-boosting 39-34 success over the Welsh – a result that saw his fellow Kiwi Wayne Pivac being replaced at the helm of the Dragons.
Warren Gatland was drafted into the Wales fold as his replacement, whereas Rennie made way for Eddie Jones – who had his contract as England head coach terminated in the wake of a disappointing autumn international window.
A strange set of musical chairs has seen Jones returning to the post he previously held from 2001 to 2005, but it is undeniable that he will bring a strong pedigree with him.
Jones Has Strong World Cup Record Coming Back Into Wallabies Hot Seat
While he won the Tri Nations Series (now known as The Rugby Championship) in 2001 before earning considerable success in the Asia Rugby Championship and Six Nations Championship with Japan and England respectively, it is his record at the World Cup finals that would have enticed Rugby Australia to bring him back in after an 18-year absence.
In 2003, he brought his native country to the World Cup final, and it took an extra-time drop goal from English fly-half Johnny Wilkinson to deny them the Webb Ellis Cup.
Four years later, he was a technical advisor for South Africa when they secured their second World Cup crown with a final victory over England.
The latter side are the common denominator on Jones’ World Cup journey as he brought the English to the 2019 final, where South Africa once again defeated them.
Four years earlier he had guided Japan to a headline-grabbing win over the Springboks, though the Brave Blossoms couldn’t progress beyond the pool stages.
Australia An Outside Bet For World Cup, But Shouldn’t Be Dismissed
Although his re-emergence to the Wallabies isn’t enough to push them up the pecking order for France 2023, they are a solid sixth favourite to score victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup betting – ahead of the likes of Wales, Argentina and Scotland.
As it currently stands, the Wallabies are 11.0 with both Bet365 and Unibet to earn a third Webb Ellis title to go alongside their previous triumphs in 1991 and 1999.
Ladbrokes have gone for the even shorter odds of 10.0 as the Aussies seek to improve on their disappointing quarter-final exit in 2019.
Back then, Jones was in charge of an English side that comfortably disposed of an Australian challenge on a score of 40-16.
As fate would have it, there is every chance that the two teams could meet again at the same point in this year’s World Cup.
Should Australia finish top of Pool C with England simultaneously claim the runners-up place in Pool D – or if the same happens in reverse – then they will lock horns at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille in the last-eight of the tournament.
The Wallabies can expect to encounter stern resistance from the likes of Wales, Fiji and Georgia at the pool stages, but Jones is a master at navigating a path to the knockout rounds of the World Cup and his Australian side will be expected to do so on this occasion.
Some Big Games For Australia In Preparation For World Cup
Though he is yet to steer the Wallabies into battle in his second stint, three tests in this summer’s Rugby Championship and a brace of warm-up games will offer a firm indication of what state Australia will be in for the tournament itself.
A lot of new players were capped by his predecessor, but with centurions Michael Hooper and James Slipper still in the fold, Jones will be able to call upon a lot of big-game experience in France as they look to shock the odds set by betting apps.