The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets going in France on Friday and we take a look at some of the betting options available to punters.
OUTRIGHT WINNER – Click here to bet
New Zealand are currently 3/1 favourites to win the Tournament ahead of France and South Africa both priced at 33/10. You can get 5/1 Ireland, 14/1 Australia and 16/1 and better the balance.
South Africa has certainly been the money team with their price shortening from 5/1 to 33/10 in recent weeks. They have a really tough draw to contend with given that Scotland and Ireland are in their group, but if anything they look a stronger and a more experienced outfit than the one which won this Tournament back in 2019. I am going to go for a South Africa win.
Suggested Bet: South Africa win at 33/10
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PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT – Click here to bet
There are few that would argue that Antoine Dupont is the best player in the World at the moment and he has also been priced up as the 7/1 favourite to be the Player of the Tournament. Second in the betting is South Africa’s Siya Kolisi at 12/1, the New Zealand pair of Mounga and Savea are priced at 14/1. Given I like South Africa to win the Tournament, Kolisi is the obvious play, but I am going to hedge my bets here and back Dupont in this market. He is an incredibly talented player and if his French team get through the quarter-finals and he has an injury free run I think he will be hard to oppose.
Suggested Bet: Player of the Tournament, Dupont at 7/1
STRAIGHT FORECAST – Click here to bet
In this market you have to predict which team will win and who they will beat in the Final and the favourites here are the two combinations of New Zealand/France and France/New Zealand both at 11/2. If you take one of these options you at least know that the sides won’t meet again until the Final and the same can be said for the South Africa/Ireland option at 12/1.
It will need things to go my way in the group stages, but I like a South Africa/France final with the Boks edging the hosts in front of a packed stadium.
Suggested Bet: Straight Forecast, South Africa/France at 16/1
TOP SOUTH AFRICA TRY SCORER – Click here to bet
Cheslin Kolbe heads this market at 33/10 ahead of Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse at 4/1. I quite like the chances of Canaan Moodie who is priced at 13/2, but in the end I am going to settle on Malcolm Marx priced at 7/1 alongside his hooker compatriot Bongi Mbonambi.
At the end of the day I expect South Africa to play to their strengths and to use the rolling maul and Marx could well be at the back conducting many a rolling maul try. He is also the sort of player that scores tries in general play, often getting that final pass out on the wing.
Suggested Bet: Top South Africa Try Scorer Malcolm Marx at 7/1
There are a host of other markets on offer including Total Tournament Tries and Dropped Goals and Top Tournament Point Scorer where Manie Libbok is trading as the 5/1 third favourite.
My final bet though is on the Total Tournaments Points Line where I fancy under 2630.5 points (an average of 54.8 points per game) at 9/10.
There may well be some high scoring encounters, but I can also see some tough attritional battles and I think the value lies in an unders play here.
Suggested Bet: Total Tournament Points Under 2630.5 at 9/10
We will have a Betting Preview up for every match of Rugby World Cup 2023
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
