From the 20th September 2019, the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament will get underway in Japan. 20 of the top teams in the world will compete across almost two months of hard-hitting Rugby action to decide which team will be crowned the new World Champions.
The mighty All Blacks of New Zealand are the current World Champions having won the title in both 2015 and 2011 and before that it was South Africa who landed victory in 2007 in France. In 2003 in Australia, it was England’s time as Champions thanks to the famous team led by captain Martin Johnson and ace fly half Jonny Wilkinson.
If you are interested in how any of the home nations gets on in Japan over the autumn, then why not head on over to bet365 Sport who have a wide range of pre-match bets available on the World Cup, and In Play betting available when the games are in progress. If you are not yet a member use the current bet365 New Customer Promotion to ensure you get a good deal when you sign up to bet at bet365.
Remember too the United States team are competing in Japan and you may fancy a flutter on their chances, especially if you live in Pennsylvania, where sports betting is now legal. You can bet at sites like PlaySugarHouse.com and if you are not yet a member check out the latest playsugarhouse bonus code information in the link to ensure you get a great deal when signing up.
Let’s now take a look at how the groups and fixtures in the Rugby World Cup are organised
*All odds shown are correct with bet365 Sport at 11am on Tuesday 17th September 2019.
Rugby World Cup 2019
Pool A
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Japan
- Russia
- Samoa
Pool A Fixtures
- 20th Sept – Japan v Russia (Tokyo)
- 22nd Sept – Ireland v Scotland (Yokohama)
- 24th Sept – Russia v Samoa (Kumagaya)
- 28th Sept – Japan v Ireland (Shizuoka)
- 30th Sept – Scotland v Samoa (Kobe)
- 3rd Oct – Ireland v Russia (Kobe)
- 5th Oct – Japan v Samoa (Toyota)
- 9th Oct – Scotland v Russia (Shizuoka)
- 12th Oct – Ireland v Samoa (Fukuoka)
- 13th Oct – Japan v Scotland (Yokohama)
Analysis
With two places available in each group for a place in the knockout phase, it is generally true that the opening phase of the Rugby World Cup is really a sharpener for the top teams. It would take a monumental surprise in any of the groups to see any of the lesser teams qualify and as such, it looks odds on that Ireland and Scotland will the teams going forward from this group.
The one surprise element here could be Japan, who on home soil and after their incredible win over South Africa in the 2015 tournament, will be a much tougher prospect than in recent years, but I would still expect the Japanese to only finish third behind the two Six Nations teams. Samoa should finish fourth and I expect a developing Russia side to find this company a big step up.
To Win the Pool Betting – Pool A
- Ireland – 1/4
- Scotland – 10/3
- Japan – 16/1
- Samoa – 250/1
- Russia – 500/1
Tip – Ireland to win the group, and Scotland to qualify.
Pool B
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Italy
- Namibia
- Canada
Pool B Fixtures
- 21st Sept – New Zealand v South Africa (Yokohama)
- 22nd Sept – Italy v Namibia (Higashiosaka)
- 26th Sept – Italy v Canada (Fukuoka)
- 28th Sept – South Africa v Namibia (Toyota)
- 2nd Oct – New Zealand v Canada (Oita)
- 4th Oct – South Africa v Italy (Fukuroi)
- 6th Oct – New Zealand v Namibia (Chofu)
- 8th Oct – South Africa v Canada (Kobe)
- 12th Oct – New Zealand v Italy (Toyota)
- 13th Oct – Namibia v Canada (Kamaishi)
Analysis
The two big southern hemisphere teams, New Zealand and South Africa, both former World Champions, will be the obvious picks in this group and the game between the pair that opens the group in Yokohama will likely decide which of them emerges from the group as the winner and has the potentially easier quarterfinal tie.
I fancy the All Blacks to land that win and win all five of their games in the group, with South Africa winning four or their five. Italy will probably finish a comfortable third, with Canada and Namibia battling closely for the fourth and fifth spots.
To Win The Pool Betting – Pool B
- New Zealand – 1/3
- South Africa – 23/10
- Italy – 200/1
- Canada – 500/1
- Namibia – 1000/1
Tip – New Zealand to win the group and South Africa to qualify.
Pool C
- England
- France
- Argentina
- United States
- Tonga
Pool C Fixtures
- 21st Sept – France v Argentina (Chofu)
- 22nd Sept – England v Tonga (Sapporo)
- 26th Sept – England v USA (Kobe)
- 28th Sept – Argentina v Tonga (Higashiosaka)
- 2nd Oct – France v USA (Fukuoka)
- 5th Oct – England v Argentina (Chofu)
- 6th Oct – France v Tonga (Kumamoto)
- 9th Oct – Argentina v USA (Kumagaya)
- 12th Oct – England v France (Yokohama)
- 13th Oct – United States v Tonga (Higashosaka)
Analysis
Although the United States and Tonga should not pose too much of a threat to England or France, the Argentinean team certainly will and if there is a group where the established order could be threatened, it is this one.
I feel it is the French most at risk as they play the Pumas first in Chofu, and this is not the best French side, while Argentina have honed their skills against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in the Tri-nations. A defeat for France here could put them in real trouble.
I do expect England to qualify top of the group and to win all five of their games, but it will be a close one this group and nothing is certain in the top three and I do feel there is a real chance of a shock coming from here.
To Win The Pool Betting – Pool C
- England – 4/11
- France – 9/2
- Argentina – 5/1
- Tonga – 350/1
- USA – 500/1
Tip – Take England to win the group and Argentina to sneak into second
Pool D
- Australia
- Wales
- Georgia
- Fiji
- Uruguay
Pool D Fixtures
- 21st Sept – Australia v Fiji (Sapporo)
- 23rd Sept – Wales v Georgia (Toyota)
- 25th Sept – Fiji v Uruguay (Kamaishi)
- 29th Sept – Georgia v Uruguay (Kumagaya)
- 29th Sept – Australia v Wales (Chofu)
- 3rd Oct – Georgia v Fiji (Higashiosaka)
- 5th Oct – Australia v Uruguay (Oita)
- 9th Oct – Wales v Fiji (Oita)
- 11th Oct – Australia v Georgia (Fukuroi)
- 13th Oct – Wales v Uruguay (Kumamoto)
Analysis
Two teams with real hopes of winning the tournament should make qualification from Group D relatively simple and it will be the result of the game between the two in Chofu on the 29th September that will likely decide the group winner.
Georgia and Fiji are well matched and will battle it out for third and fourth but I feel Uruguay will be the whipping boys of the group and end up a distant fifth.
To Win The Pool Betting – Pool D
- Wales – 8/11
- Australia – 11/10
- Fiji – 40/1
- Georgia – 250/1
- Uruguay – 500/1
Tip – Wales to win the group and Australia to qualify in second.
What would this leave us with?
If the group predictions are correct then this would leave us with the following quarterfinals, with the winners of the top two games meeting in the semis and the same for the winners of the bottom two.
- England v Australia
- Ireland v South Africa
- Wales v Argentina
- New Zealand v Scotland
My tip to win the tournament however, based on their projected run to the final is New Zealand who are 5/4 with bet365 Sport.
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