Rugby World Cup 2023 Betting: Who are the favourites to lift the trophy?

The build up to the 2023 edition of the Rugby World Cup has been full of injuries, high tackles and questions about coaching and that is just for England. 

The tournament gets underway in Paris at 8:15pm on Friday night with the hosts taking on the three-time champions and tournament favourites New Zealand. 

New Zealand - 4.3

Shock horror, the All Blacks are in the mix again. Their worst result in the last three tournaments was a semi-final loss in 2019. However this time they come into the tournament under a bit of a cloud and their place at the top of the mountain in question. They are currently ranked fourth in the world and have a 69 per cent winning record from 2020 until now, compared to 91 per cent from 2011 to 2015.

Going into their final warm-up match against fellow contenders South Africa at Twickenham on August 25th they were 11 matches unbeaten and quietly building some pre-tournament momentum. South Africa then handed the All Blacks their biggest ever defeat in a 35-7 drubbing. 

New Zealand are still a decent bet however so don’t be too easily put off. They are just not the run-away favourites they have been for the past few tournaments. Their team still contains six World Cup winners and a coach who has won it as an assistant. 

France - 4.6

Les Blues have been one of rugby’s form teams over the past three years winning the Six Nations in 2022. Leading them they have scrum-half and 2021 World Rugby player of the year Antoine Dupont. 

The French team won all 11 of their matches in 2022 and were narrowly pipped to the 2023 Six Nations by Ireland. They face New Zealand in the tournament opener. The last time the hosts met the All Blacks they ran out 40-25 winners at the same venue. 

France are without their mercurial fly-half Romain Ntamack who ruptured his cruciate ligament in a warm-up game against Scotland. The hosts have never won a World Cup, but with a raucous home crown behind them they will never get a better opportunity.

South Africa - 4.6

The reigning champions come into the tournament in strong form including the aforementioned win over the All Blacks.

Between tournaments the South Africans have been one of the form teams in world rugby. They won a home series against the British and Irish Lions two years ago and have been building momentum nicely. They are led by flanker Siya Kolisi, the first black player to captain South Africa, an inspirational leader as well as being one of the world’s best in his position.

They are currently ranked number two in the world, combine that with the experience of winning from four years ago and you have a serious contender.

Ireland - 6.6

The Irish come into the tournament as the world’s number one team and reigning Six Nations champions. They also have World  Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier. 

In the last year the Irish have won a series in New Zealand, beaten South Africa and Australia, before sweeping all before them in the Six Nations. Despite promising a lot in the past they have only ever reached the quarter final stage of a World Cup. 

The world’s best team find themselves at an appealing price, perhaps this is down to their lack of World Cup pedigree. For me this is where you should be looking to put your money.

Australia - 16

As you can see by the odds the Australian’s are a way back in the running than our other four contenders. The recent appointment of former England coach Eddie Jones has certainly had mixed reviews so far. 

However, Jones is a bit of a World Cup guru. He has previously coached both England and Australia to finals in 2019 and 2003 respectively, he was an assistant coach of South Africa when they won the 2007 tournament and he coached Japan in 2015 when they famously beat South Africa in the pool stages. 

The Wallabies are a bit of an outsiders choice but with Jones at the wheel and a group they should qualify from without too many problems, they could be worth a shot.

Recommended Bets

New Zealand to win Rugby World Cup 2023 @ 4.3
France to win @ 4.6
South Africa to win @ 4.6
Ireland to win @ 6.6
Australia to win @ 16