France vs All Blacks betting tips:

• New Zealand to win – Evens with Spreadex
• France HT/New Zealand FT – 11/2 with Parimatch
• Second half to be the highest scoring half – 5/6 with bet365

The Rugby World Cup is set to get off to a bang in Saint-Denis this Friday evening (kick-off 8pm UK time) as tournament favourites New Zealand and France lock horns in a tantalising Pool A clash.

It isn’t always the case that the Rugby World Cup gets up and running with such a blockbuster encounter, but that is the way it has fallen on this occasion and the bookmakers are torn over who they expect to come out on top in Stade de France.

While their head coach Ian Foster comes into this tournament knowing that he will be replaced by Scott Robertson in the aftermath of it, the majority of Rugby World Cup odds place New Zealand as 3/1 favourites to win the tournament for the fourth time in their history.

The same odds are available on France with a number of betting sites and while others have gone slightly longer than 3/1, it is clear that Les Bleus are one of more fancied sides in the tournament.

Winner of tournament opener will look to build momentum

Although their opening game won’t determine who is going to win the overall prize, the winning team on Friday – if there is one – will have serious momentum behind them in the early weeks of the World Cup.

When France last hosted the RWC back in 2007, their Pool D campaign began with a 17-12 defeat to Argentina. Then under the stewardship of Bernard Laporte, France had come into the tournament as Six Nations champions.

That isn’t the case this time around thanks to Ireland’s unbeaten march through the spring international window, but France are a formidable outfit on home soil and are currently 5/6 with Spreadex to get over the line against New Zealand.

Veterans will have big part to play for All Blacks

Yet the loss of Romain Ntamack to injury was a pre-tournament blow for head coach Fabien Galthie and if there is any team in the world who are capable of exploiting any sort of hesitancy in an opposition side, then it is the All Blacks.

In Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett, the southern hemisphere giants have a quartet of international centurions who can bring leadership both on and off the pitch.

Spreadex are also giving odds of Evens (1/1) on New Zealand producing the goods in the opening fixture of the 10th World Cup if punters believe that group can find form early on.

Tip: New Zealand to win – Evens with Spreadex

Lead could change hands at the break

Yet given how close both teams appear to be on paper, there is every chance that the lead could change hands on a number of occasions throughout the course of the action in Saint-Denis.

While Parimatch are offering 11/8 on France being ahead at both half time and full time – and 6/4 on New Zealand doing likewise – they offer 11/2 on the host nation leading at the midway point only to be overtaken by the All Blacks come the end of the contest.

The Kiwi nation are known for their durability in games and even if France do hold an advantage at the break, it won’t be a guarantee of success.

Tip: France half time/New Zealand full time – 11/2 with Parimatch

It could take a while for the action to catch fire

Considering this is the first game of the tournament, it is understandable that it might take some time for the two teams to hit their full stride in Stade de France.

Most sporting contests across a number of codes often open up the longer it develops and with that in mind, it is worth looking into the possibility that the second half of the tie might be higher scoring than the one that precedes it.

At the time of writing, bet365 are offering odds of 5/6 on the second half between France and New Zealand being the higher scoring one and it’s a bet we have our eye on.

Tip: Second half to be the highest scoring half – 5/6 with Bet365