Women's Rugby World Cup Betting: England And New Zealand Favourites To Make Final
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Now that it has reached the last-four phase, UK betting sites are offering their take on who is expected to qualify for the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Thus far in the tournament, there have been very few surprises with most - if not all - games going along anticipated lines.
In addition to the host nation, England, Canada and France were the top-ranked teams in the game coming into these finals.
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While the French had to settle for runners-up spot in Pool C, they have done enough overall to join the remainder of the ‘big four’ in the penultimate round.
Despite a defeat to the English, Les Bleus secured victories at the expense of South Africa and Fiji to advance into the quarter-final stage.
Semi-Finalists Boosted By Comfortable Last Eight Wins
This put France on a collision course with Italy, but a hat-trick of tries from Joanna Grisez helped Thomas Darracq’s charges towards a convincing 39-3 triumph.
Elsewhere, it was an unbeaten path to the final four for England, New Zealand and Canada. After topping their respective pools, each of these teams were convincing quarter-final winners as best rugby betting sites predicted.
For the English, openside flanker Marlie Packer was the star of the show in their emphatic 41-5 triumph over Australia.
New Zealand had no fewer than seven try-scorers in a 55-3 demolition of Wales, while Canada enjoyed a 32-11 victory against neighbours United States.
Canada And England Take On Each Other This Saturday
In a repeat of the 2014 showpiece, the Canadians will face England in the first of the two semi-finals at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
That decider followed a previous meeting in the pool stages of the tournament, when the two sides played out a 13-13 draw.
However, the Red Roses had that bit extra in the locker when they renewed acquaintances with Canada in the final.
Courtesy of 10 unanswered points from Emily Scarratt, the Gary Street-coached side emerged with a 21-9 success.
Since then, these two nations have continued to be familiar foes, clashing on no fewer than 10 occasions.
Canada did have the measure of their forthcoming opponents in a 2016 encounter, but have otherwise come off second best in this fixture.
England Expected To Book Final Place
England came into this tournament as favourites for the top prize and with their winning run in international rugby now extended to an astonishing 29 games, it is easy to see why betting apps are so adamant they will come through their latest duel with Canada.
Remarkably for a World Cup semi-final, England are rated at 1/33 to make it five wins from five in this year’s tournament. Some bookmakers even have a price of 1/100 on them doing the job in Auckland this weekend.
The shortest value you can get on a Canada win is 10/1 with William Hill, as sure a sign as any that Kévin Rouet’s side will be sporting the underdog tag in this game.
While there was that aforementioned stalemate between the teams at the World Cup eight years ago, this was the only one of 32 previous encounters in this fixture that didn’t produce a winner.
UK bookmakers are offering 27/1 on this game finishing in a draw, but there is no denying that Canada are up against it this weekend.
French Still Seeking First Final Appearance
From the eight World Cup finals that have taken place to date, France have reached the last four in seven of them.
They are yet to make a showpiece appearance and even though Les Bleus claimed third spot in the tournament on six separate occasions, this is a source of frustration for them.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have qualified for and won five different finals - including the most recent one in Ireland just over five years ago.
The Black Ferns don’t lose too many games at international level, but if they are to retain their crown, Wayne Smith’s outfit will most likely have to overcome the two teams that have had the most joy against them.
Whereas England have inflicted 10 of the 16 reversals they have suffered since playing their first international in 1990, France can also boast to having four wins under their belts from just nine meetings with New Zealand.
All these victories have come within the past four years and were also in succession. However, the French are still only third favourites to win the tournament, as BetVictor have them rated as a 10/1 shout.
New Zealand Victory Is Anticipated
Question is, does it help to make the French favourites for this weekend’s action? Well, not according to betting firms.
The Black Ferns are also 4/11 with 888sport to progress to the final on Saturday, November 12.
These odds are not as extravagant as what’s on offer for England, but it leaves punters in no doubt as to who is the anticipated winner.
France are at 9/4 to finally making it past the last-four and avoid yet another third/fourth place play-off.
New Zealand have drawn just one game as a test nation, an 8-8 stalemate with England back on December 3, 2011.
France have shared the spoils with five different sides in women’s rugby and there are odds of 19/1 on 10Bet on them doing so again.
Woodman A Key Component Of The New Zealand Challenge
Although Grisez is one to watch from a French perspective, the elusive Portia Woodman has once again marked herself out to be key to New Zealand's chances.
Having crossed the whitewash an incredible 13 times in the 2017 World Cup, the Black Ferns ace has added seven tries to her ever-expanding international tally in this year’s edition of the global tournament.
England remain the favourites for the overall prize with each of their four displays in the campaign proving to be of the highest quality.
New Zealand will feel they are capable of doing so as well and the outstanding Woodman will be central to their plans over the next two weekends - when all four teams are guaranteed to be in competitive action.
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