BOOKIES predict industry turnover for the World Cup could hit £100 million with William Hill alone expecting to take bets in excess of £20m.
As it stands an astonishing 26 per cent of Hills' customers have backed England to win this year’s tournament that kicks off on Friday.
Wales, Australia and Ireland have attracted 12 per cent with the favourites New Zealand nine per cent of people's choices – and Scotland even fewer.
“England are all the rage at present and if they win it will be the biggest payout in rugby betting history,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
It's a different story at Unibet with 70 per cent of bets on New Zealand and one tenth of them on the hosts.
More than half of Unibet’s top try scorer bets are backing the Kiwis' Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Here are some of their outright and special odds.
Winner
11/10 New Zealand; 4 England; 6 South Africa; 8 Australia; 9 Ireland; 16 France; 25 Wales; 66 Argentina; 150 Scotland; 500 Samoa; 1000 Bar
Top Try Scorer
9/2 Savea; 8 Milner-Skudder; 10 B Smith; 12 Habana, Naholo; 14 Nonu; 18 La Roux; 20 Folau; 25 Watson, Joseph, Mvovo, May; 28 A Smith; 33 North
Top Points Scorer
21/10 Carter; 7/2 Barrett; 9/2 Ford; 5 Lambie; 6 Sexton; 7 Pollard; 10 Giteau; 12 Michalak; 16 Farrell
2/5 Rugby Championship nation to lift the RWC
2/1 Six Nations team to lift the RWC
Name The Finalists
4/1 Eng v NZ
13/2 Ire v NZ
15/2 Aus v NZ
8/1 Eng v S Africa
12/1 NZ v France
13/1 Eng v Aus
14/1 S Africa v Ireland
14/1 S Africa v NZ
16/1 Wal v NZ
22/1 Aus v S.Africa
25/1 Eng v Ire
Top Pacific Islands Team
1/5 Samoa; 7/2 Fiji; 20/1 Tonga
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Really like the look of Fiji plus 26 on the handicap for Friday against England. 5/6
Scotland to go out in the quarters 5/6
Dan Carter to be top points scorer 9/4
Derek, the Scotland tip looks spot on.
Just placed England/Fiji UNDER 54.5. I hope both teams will play conservative!
Derek, I completely agree with you about Fiji. +26 is a huge head start for them. I would see England winning by 10-15 points in a hard fought encounter. Fiji are playing well and have a new level of organisation in defence. Their attack speaks for itself.
I also thought that Uruguay +66 against Wales was tempting. Undoubtedly Wales will win comfortably but their management will be keen to protect their key men having sustained so many big injuries already. I could see Uruguay scoring 10-15 points of their own meaning Wales would have to score roughly 80.
I can’t imagine any teams conceding that many points in RWC2015.
I can’t see past NZ outright but I’d be looking for 7/4 before backing them from the start.
England are massively under priced when you consider the group they have to come through. They are also lacking in depth in the pack I think. NZ v Aus final for me.
A spirited quarter final for the Scots I fancy too.
I also think the 9/4 on Carter is a bit skinny. It all depends how much game time he gets in the pool stages. Hanson will possibly only play his starting 15 against Argentina in the early stages.
Pollard @ 8/1 ew and Cooper @ 14/1 ew represent a bit better value to me.
Can’t believe the backing the Poms are getting. As mentioned they’ve got a brutal group to try get through 1st but you never know I suppose.
Can’t look past SA come World Cup time. They’ve been outta form coming into the tournament but so were they in 1995 and 2007. Definitely worth a punt!
Agreed Gunner. They have a smooth looking route to the final if all goes to plan. Ireland look to have peaked too early as well. France have to be the best northern hemisphere chance, but it’d be a bit of a shock.
*Giteau @14/1 sorry. Not Cooper.
Done Fiji canada Italy and uruguay with handicap, 14.5/1
tans to win by 10 -15 pts seriously lads cop on . they will win by 20 plus easily.
Top try scorer Jermaine kaino nz he had 4 in the last world cup and at 125/1 and some easy pool games its worth a couple of quid
I think Fiji plus 26 is a good bet as they have been in camp for nearly three months now and will be fast out of the blocks. I also like Canada +40. All bookies should be offering even money on the handicap betting.
If you do a 25euro bet with paddypower online for top try scorer, you get a five euro free bet every time they score
My thinking is Ireland and New Zealand will win their groups so can’t then meet until the final ,Ireland would then play the runner up in group C ,so they look good for a semi final place ,Ranked 3rd in the world they would have a chance against anyone in the semi so
Ireland
20% to win outright at 10/1
80% to reach the final at 9/4
coybig.
BEWARE IRELAND
Stats are correct,but if england win group,and quarter would play ireland in semi,same as Australia and at 7/1 i think the aussies are the forgotten side,good luck anyway.
tsonga -9.5 agaisnt georgia is surely decent ?
Got a £25 refund offer from betfair on the exchanges so will be looking around to brazenly take tips over the weekend!
Fiji +26.5 is my first one. Thanks folks.
Rugby world cup,here we go lads
FIJI +26
TONGA -11
CANADA +40
ITALY +15
15/1 LADBROKES
ENJOY AND GL EVERYONE.
5 try Total Tournament difference between Coral & Bet365 on up & overs. Also over England total points tonight looks value rather than handicap betting. I am on Corals over 280.5 tries.
Rugby world cup
William Hill
If your 1st try scorer selection scores 2nd
we pay it as a winner
If anyone is interested
Not sure if Hills are doing this on every match in the world cup
Very 1st bash at betting on the rugby…I’m going to try and get into it to see if there’s any value for future matches.
Nice double for tonight’s game and into Saturday
Fiji +32 on the handicap
Tonga -7 on the handicap
Double pays Approx 1.2/1
Bet Victor
Anthony Watson first try 7/1 well worth a shout if you back with will hill who will pay out on second try as well. Only for your first bet I believe so do check up.
Anthony Watson 4/5 anytime for the more sensible.
I will also go against the above and would like to believe England will cover the handicap -25 handicap without too much trouble.
England -25 Evens
Ireland will smash the hcap against Canada . I was right bout England. Canada lost to Fiji by 30 point in warm up game and to usa by 20. get on ireland -42
Tonga -8.5 the next one for me.