Rugby World Cup: Pool and knockout stage predictions and best bets

England, South Africa, Ireland and Wales are hopeful of winning the Rugby World Cup in Japan. However, they have shown their vulnerabilities in the last 18 months. New Zealand are favourites to win the tournament.

Wales and South Africa are the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup kicks off on 3/9/19.

Ireland are going to win Pool A. Japan play Scotland on Sunday October 13. Ireland have a history of peaking between World Cups.

Japan finished second in their 2015 World Cup pool behind second placed Scotland. Japan won the Pacific Nations Cup and have been waiting for a World cup on home soil. Scotland are 9/2 with Sky Bet to be eliminated at the group stage and Japan are the same price to get knocked out in the quarter-final. The tournament is a good value. It's played in front of packed passionate home crowds. The home nation has only failed to qualify for the knockout stages once.

New Zealand take on South Africa in the third match of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, September 21. Whoever wins the match will top their pool and play England in a semi-final. The loser will have to play Wales and Ireland in knock-out stages. Italy will finish third by beating Canada and Namibia.

France and Argentina are playing in the pool of death. The winner of the group will go home in group stages. France won their last meeting in November 28-13 on home turf. Argentina have lost four straight matches, but they have beaten New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Argentina's last game was on August 17, with France's on 30 August. I'm backing Los Pumas to take second. They have a tougher preparation in Rugby Championship.

Wales and Australia are almost certainties to finish first and second in their pools. New Zealand could finish second if they lose their opening game to South Africa. Wales lost their creative spark without Gareth Anscombe. Australia have been poor for the last 18 months. Fiji and Georgia are unknown quantities.   The World Cup is inspiring unforeseen form. Rugby World cup is taking place in Brazil. It's taking places from September. The winner of the tournament will go on to play in the final.

Winner of Pool C v Runner up of pool D - England v Australia.

England have won their last six matches against Australia. Australia beat England 33-13 in 2015 and defeated them in the 1991 final at Twickenham. England have also won eight of the last 10 and 10 of last 12 meetings with Australia and Wales.

Winner of Pool B v Runner up of pool A - New Zealand v Japan.

New Zealand will win the Rugby World Cup. South Africa/New Zealander v. Japan/Scotland will be a comfortable ride for either of them.

Wales will play Argentina in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

Wales are another home nation that have a mixed knock-out stage record. Argentina have lost their last four matches against the Welsh and won just once in the past eight meetings.

Winner of Pool A v Runner Up of pool B - Ireland v South Africa.

Both sides are playing their opening matches in their groups. This would be their first meeting since 2017. South Africa have enjoyed a better 2019 to date and have a high standard. Ireland have never reached a semi-final.

England will play New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

Before the final is the best place to beat New Zealand. South Africa and England have the game to do it. England won just one of their last 16 matches against the World Champions.

Wales will play South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Wales are further along in their development than the South African Springboks. Wales have the unity, the belief in each other, consistency, experience and defence. South Africa have supreme confidence and an all round game to win a World Cup, but they lack consistency and defensive steal.

New Zealand v Wales is a rugby match at the World Cup.

The All Blacks have won every World Cup final they've played in. The All Black's last win over Wales was in 1953. South Africa have beaten, lost by two points and drawn with New Zealand in their last three meetings. The Kiwis experience should decide this one. It would be a fascinating contest. If South African team makes it to the final, they will not fear their opponents.

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