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Rugby World Cup Previewby Ben, last updated 2007-09-04 20:17:31Rugby World Cup PreviewThe sixth Rugby World Cup which begins on Friday in the Stade de France will see twenty nations take part in forty eight matches over forty four days. No country has ever retained the Cup and Brian Ashton's England side are not expected to buck that trend. New Zealand are 4/9 to win their 2nd World Cup and are the best team, but they are not the best bet at those prohibitive odds. You can back England at 33/1 with www.betdirect.net to retain the William Webb Ellis Cup and, whilst we are expecting a swell of patriotic support, the more discerning rugby punter is steering well clear of the holders. They lack the class and pace to break down top class international defences and the squad is reliant on experience and strength at the expense of youth and flair. England face Samoa, Tonga, USA and South Africa in the Group stages and ought to qualify, but they are 5/2 to top the Group (South Africa 1/4 favourites). Unless they beat the Springboks they are likely to meet Australia in the quarter finals in Marseille on October 6th, and the Aussies showed their class when they beat the All Blacks at the MCG at the end of June. England are 8/11 at www.betdirect.net to be knocked out at the quarter final stage and that is proving very popular. If you believe we can beat the Aussies as in 2003, or you feel we will top the group and make our way into the last four, probably at the expense of Wales, we are 9/4 to be eliminated at the semi final stage and 10/1 to be the runners up. Of the other home Nations Ireland are 20/1 to land the Trophy but they are too reliant on the skills of Brian O'Driscoll and his latest injury scare is a concern. Wales are 66/1 whilst Scotland are 200/1. The Irish are not guaranteed to reach the knock out stages given they face hosts France and Argentina. The Pumas did lose to Wales at the Millennium Stadium 27-20 recently but the 2/1 that the Irish do not reach the quarter finals looks very big to me. Wales look sure to reach the last eight but we are confident that is where their World Cup journey will end and they are 4/11 to be eliminated at that stage. They are 3/1 to lose in the semi finals and 16/1 to be tournament runners up. Scotland have no chance of beating New Zealand despite the game being played at Murrayfield but are 8/11 to win their group without the All Blacks. The runners up slot is likely to be decided by the final group game between Scotland and Italy at St Etienne on the 29th September. The Azzurri beat the Scots 37-17 at Murrayfield back in February and are a confident selection to confirm the form. The Scots are 11/10 at www.betdirect.net not to qualify and that looks too big. When you consider the All Blacks have in their group both Portugal and Romania the tournament's top try scorer is likely to be a New Zealand back. But which one? It is possible that first-choice wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sivivatu will not play against the minnows of Portugal and Romania and it is likely that New Zealand will score at least ten tries in both matches. Second-guessing team selection is difficult but the recommendation is having a couple of quid on Malili Muliaina (14/1 at www.betdirect.net ) who can play anywhere in the backs and looks just the type to score a hatful against the lesser lights. France were impressive against the English and Welsh recently and with home advantage they are the recommendation at 7/1 for the outright, although I suggest a saver at 9/4 in the market without the All Blacks. Visit Betdirect today for all Rugby World Cup prices. ← Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 Next → |
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