Rugby World Cup Odds: What Are The Odds On England Winning The Rugby World Cup?
Despite making it into the penultimate round as the only remaining unbeaten team in the tournament, England are still seen as outsiders for glory at the Rugby World Cup in France in the eyes of the best betting sites for rugby union.
Following a run of four successive wins in Pool D – dispatching the challenges posed by Argentina, Japan, Chile and Samoa – Steve Borthwick’s charges progressed to face Pool C runners-up Fiji at the quarter-final stage of the RWC in Stade de Marseille last Sunday.
Already on their best winning run since Borthwick assumed the head coach mantle from Eddie Jones at the end of 2022, England were in a commanding 24-10 lead at the beginning of the final-quarter against the Fijians.
Yet their Pacific Island counterparts suddenly stormed back into contention with converted tries from Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu – leaving the sides inseparable on the scoreboard in the process.
However, England kept their cool as Owen Farrell knocked over a drop goal and a penalty in the 72nd and 78th minutes respectively to ultimately secure them a 30-24 success.
England Now In The Hunt For Final Place Despite Pre-Tournament Fears
Having seemingly been short of confidence heading into the tournament courtesy of a warm-up defeat to Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, England now find themselves 80 minutes away from claiming a Webb Ellis Cup final spot as a result of defeating the same side.
The draw for the Rugby World Cup was always seen as somewhat favourable to the English and even though their form leading up to it suggested that nothing should be taken for granted, they are still in the reckoning, whereas host nation France, Ireland, Wales and Australia are amongst those to have been eliminated.
English Still Seen As Outsiders For World Cup Success
Still, three-time world champions South Africa and New Zealand are also in the last-four, and it is their presence that leaves England as just the third favourite from the four teams left to be the winners of the 2023 World Cup.
Having knocked France out of the tournament at the end of an epic contest in Saint-Denis last Sunday evening, holders South Africa are now seen as the favourites to make it back-to-back World Cups. With no fewer than 17 betting apps, the Springboks are rated at 10/11 for RWC honours.
While Jacques Nienaber’s side lost to Ireland in the pool stages – a country that Nienaber will find himself in a few weeks from now as part of Leo Cullen’s coaching team at Leinster – they have expertly shaken off that defeat and are currently in a strong position for another title tilt.
New Zealand had a difficult start to the tournament with a 27-13 reversal to France, but squeezed past an Irish side with four points to spare (28-24) at Stade de France last weekend to keep their own quest for a fourth Webb Ellis Cup very much alive.
The most common odds to be found on the All Blacks emerging as world champions for the third time in four attempts are 6/5, though there is also a value of 5/4 and 11/10 on them with other bookmakers.
Before the Fijian game, England were 11/1 with the majority of betting sites to win the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.
There are a couple of bookies who are offering shorter odds on them as a result of their quarter-final success with Unibet and SpreadEx placing 10/1 and 9/1 on the English respectively.
BetUK are also offering 10/1 on Borthwick’s men, but last weekend’s result hasn’t had that much of an impact as no fewer than 15 bookies only see England as a 12/1 possibility for tournament glory.
Included amongst this cohort are the likes of Bet365, 888sport, Coral, and Parimatch.
Some sites have gone even longer than that at 14/1 and while there are odds that range between 28/1 and 40/1 on Argentina being unlikely World Cup winners, it is clear that doubts remain about this England team.
Some Crucial Factors Behind England’s Underdogs Status
The fact that the side are far from perfect certainly has something to do with this and having been in such a commanding position with 20 minutes remaining in their duel with Fiji, they did make life hard for themselves by letting their opponents back into the game.
Also, the fact that South Africa are now back at the summit of the world rankings and are expected to prevail at Stade de France this Saturday (kick-off 8pm UK time) has a part to play in this as well.
Generally speaking, there are odds of either 2/11 or 1/6 on the Springboks making it to their fourth World Cup final this weekend.
By contrast, England are 9/2 with 13 bookmakers to defy the odds and make it through to another decider – just four years on from their previous appearance at that stage.
They will certainly be up against it, but with influential figureheads like the aforementioned Farrell, Courtney Lawes and Dan Coles in their ranks, it would be foolish to write England off completely.