Rugby World Cup's expected best player, top try scorer and winners emerge
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is nearly upon us and it is expected to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable tournaments ever.
With four teams neck-and-neck at the top of the global rankings, and several others showing their potential over the summer, most rugby experts insist we will see a wide-open competition in France this summer and some huge match-ups in the knockout stages.
What makes it even harder to predict is the decision to hold the draw for the World Cup back in 2020, a move which has left the competition lopsided, with one side loaded with highly-ranked teams and the other lacking any team from inside the world's top five.
That means we could see a side that has looked unconvincing in the build-up to the tournament - including England, Australia and Wales - turn the formbook on its head and unexpectedly make it through to the latter stages.
As in any sport, anything is possible, but with the squads named and the warm-up games done and dusted, the bookies have had their say on how they think this World Cup will transpire.
Here are the latest odds from on everything from outright champions to pool winners and top point scorers.
Winners
They may be going into the tournament as the number one ranked side in the world, but Ireland are not the favourites to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup this autumn, having never reached the semi-final stage before.
Instead, it is New Zealand (11/4) who are currently favourites to go all the way, with hosts France (3/1) in second and reigning world champions South Africa (10/3) - who beat the All Blacks 35-7 last month - in third.
Meanwhile, Wales have been given an outside chance to win the tournament, with odds of 40/1 putting them below Australia, England and Argentina.
- New Zealand - 11/4
- France - 3/1
- South Africa - 10/3
- Ireland - 9/2
- Australia - 11/1
- England - 14/1
- Argentina - 25/1
- Wales - 40/1
- Scotland - 40/1
- Fiji - 100/1
Finalists
Unsurprisingly, the world's top four teams dominate the list of likely finalists, with a showdown between the All Blacks and France - a repeat of the 2011 final - given the best odds (3/1) of happening.
South Africa have also been backed to make the final for the second consecutive tournament, featuring in three of the four of most likely fixtures, while Ireland and France have also been given favourable odds.
Despite being out of form, both England and Australia have been given a chance by the bookies to reach the final and face New Zealand, with the uneven nature of the World Cup draw expected to work in their favour.
- New Zealand & France - 3/1
- New Zealand & South Africa - 5/1
- France & South Africa - 11/2
- South Africa & Ireland - 7/1
- New Zealand & Ireland - 8/1
- France & Ireland - 17/2
- New Zealand & Australia - 14/1
- New Zealand & England - 16/1
- France & Australia 16/1
- France & England 16/1
Pick up your brilliant 48-page guide to the Rugby World Cup here and get the official match programmes for every game here
To win Pool
New Zealand and France have been given equal odds (10/11) to win Pool A, with Italy (66/1) their only real competition, while South Africa (4/5) have been tipped to finish ahead of Ireland (6/5) in Pool B, with Scotland (10/1) and Tonga (100/1) missing out.
Meanwhile, Australia (1/2) have been made favourites to win Pool C ahead of Wales (12/5), while Fiji (7/1) and Georgia (80/1) also haven't been ruled out. England (4/5) and Argentina (1/1) are expected to fight it out at the top of Pool D, with Japan and Samoa both given odds of 40/1.
- Pool A – New Zealand 10/11, France 10/11, Italy 66/1, Namibia 1500/1, Uruguay 1500/1
- Pool B – South Africa 4/5, Ireland 6/5, Scotland 10/1, Tonga 100/1, Romania 1500/1
- Pool C – Australia 1/2, Wales 12/5, Fiji 7/1, Georgia 80/1, Portugal 500/1
- Pool D – England 4/5, Argentina 1/1, Japan 40/1, Samoa 40/1, Chile 1000/1
Top Six Nations Team
No surprises here, with France priced at evens to get further than any other Six Nations side. Ireland aren't far behind (2/1) and neither are England (4/1), but Wales have been given odds of 18/1.
They are all ahead of Scotland (25/1) who have been given an outside chance given their incredibly tough pool, while Italy are in a similar position and have been given odds of 350/1 as they look to cause an upset that would shock the rugby world.
Top Tournament Try-scorer
Again, it is New Zealand who dominate the odds, with Will Jordan (7/1), Mark Telea (15/2) and Caleb Clarke (11/1) all expected to be in the mix for the tournament's top tryscorer.
They are joined at the top by Damian Penaud of France (15/2) and South Africa's Cheslin Koblbe (11/1), while Wales duo Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit find themselves much further down with odds of 18/1.
- Will Jordan (New Zealand) 7/1
- Damian Penaud (France) 15/2
- Mark Telea (New Zealand) 15/2
- Caleb Clarke (New Zealand) 11/1
- Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) 11/1
- Leicester Faingaanuku (New Zealand) 14/1
- James Lowe (Ireland) 14/1
- Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa) 16/1
- Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa) 16/1
- Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) 16/1
- Max Malins (England) - 18/1
- Emoni Narawa (New Zealand) - 18/1
- Josh Adams (Wales) - 18/1
- Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales) - 18/1
- Mack Hansen (Ireland) - 20/1
Top Tournament Points Scorer
France's Thomas Ramos has been backed to bag the most points at his home World Cup with odds of 9/4 and he is closely followed by All Black Richie Mo'unga (5/2).
Manie Libbok of South Africa and Argentina's Emiliano Boffelli aren't far behind (both 11/2), while England pair Owen Farrell and George Ford are neck-and-neck (15/2) despite the former being suspended for his side's opening two games.
Wales' best hope is Leigh Halfpenny, who finds himself way down the list with odds of 25/1.
- Thomas Ramos (France) - 9/4
- Richie Mo'unga (New Zealand) - 5/2
- Manie Libbok (South Africa) - 11/2
- Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina) - 11/2
- Owen Farrell (England) - 15/2
- George Ford (England) - 15/2
- Carter Gordon (Australia) - 12/1
- Jonny Sexton (Ireland) - 12/1
- Marcus Smith (England) - 16/1
- Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) - 20/1
- Beauden Barrett (New Zealand) - 22/1
- Damian Willemse (South Africa) - 22/1
- Melvyn Jaminet (France) - 25/1
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) - 25/1
- Damian McKenzie (New Zealand) - 33/1
Player of the Tournament
French talisman Antoine Dupont is the clear favourite to be named Player of the Tournament with odds of 7/1, although he is closely followed by the Springboks' skipper Siya Kolisi (12/1), who overcame a serious knee injury in time to be selected for the tournament.
All Blacks trio Dalton Papalii, Richie Mounga and Ardie Savea (14/1) are all in the mix, while Jonny Sexton could bow out from rugby in style as he has been given odds of 16/1 to be named Player of the Tournament.
The top Welsh player is expected to be co-captain Jac Morgan at 66/1, followed by Dan Biggar at 80/1.
- Antoine Dupont (France) - 7/1
- Siya Kolisi (South Africa) - 12/1
- Dalton Papalii (New Zealand) - 14/1
- Richie Mounga (New Zealand) - 14/1
- Ardie Savea (New Zealand)- 14/1
- Charles Ollivon (France) - 16/1
- Pieter-Steph Du Toit (South Africa) - 16/1
- Jonny Sexton (Ireland) - 16/1
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland) - 16/1
- Matthieu Jalibert (France) - 16/1
- Manie Libbock (South Africa) - 16/1
- Jac Morgan - 66/1
