As is always the case New Zealand mind the betting for the World Cup, but after an extremely indifferent Rugby Championship campaign (that contained a draw with South Africa and uninspiring victory over Argentina) they’ve drifted to a ideal price of 11/8 having been short as evens only a few weeks ago.
I do not feel the gap between the All Blacks and the pursuing bunch is as big as it’s been in years, although they continue to be the best side in the world, if they attract their.
Is South Africa, that appear prepared to join New Zealand as the only real way to win three world titles and already have two World Cup wins.
Since taking charge of the Springboks Rassie Erasmus has rejuvenated a side who seemed to be going nowhere. They finished second a tournament announced that the Boks were still ago. They beat the All Blacks 36-34 in Wellington prior to a narrow loss to the facet in Pretoria.
2019 watched South Africa claim their Rugby Championship title. An experimental team hammered Australia in round one, before drawing on 16-16 with all New Zealand thanks to Herschel Jantjies last gasp try (look for him to earn a huge impact in this tournament). The Boks sealed the title beating Argentina 46-13 in Salta.
As you would expect that the Boks boast that the most powerful and damaging package on earth. Everywhere you look you see celebrity names and players that are . Even though the loss of Aphiwe Dyantyi into a drug evaluation is a significant blow, to go with this ability they have an with not one but three match changers in scrum-half.
They start their championship against New Zealand. A win on September 21st would surely see South Africa confront Scotland, Ireland or even Japan from the quarter-finals and leading the pool. However, having looked in the permutations a reduction wouldn’t be the world’s end, given the way the draw may fall.
To sum-up this seems to be the best chance at World Cup glory of South Africa because 2007. They have a pack that strikes fear a world class half-back combination with Faf De Klerk and Handre Pollard and outside environments that are electrical. They are well coached and maybe most crucially they have no fear of playing New Zealand (which maybe can not be said of different sides).
They would be my selection that is straight.
I had been fairly critical of the French they were mortal one minute to seem like they hadn’t ever played in the next phase. Average France.
And in normally style they’ve suckered me into thinking they could once again be contenders in the World Cup, in which they have performed above expectations. Following England, Les Bleus have almost any northern hemisphere side’s World Cup pedigree, having completed.
There’s no denying that on paper Jacques Brunel has one of the most talented squads at the tournament, much like South Africa they can field a ferociously solid pack along with electric backs — regardless of how far they make I expect winger Damian Penaud to be among the celebrities of the competition.
It is simply a case of whether they possess the structure and advised to put it together and get from a group which includes England and Argentina (but in the second Los Pumas seem a shadow of their former self).
If they can negotiate the group stage (and possibly win the group) then no one will want to face a certain and fully firing side.
So at 40/1 with two locations on offer, they are well worth taking a opportunity.
As I have tipped France and South Africa it would be stupid to not have a little punt on the two sides to match at the final, which will be cost of 100/1 and value a little nibble.
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