Women's Rugby World Cup Betting: England Favourites To Lift The Trophy

With the pool stages of the competition now done and dusted, betting sites are offering their take on who the main contenders are in the quarter-final phase of the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

England, Canada and New Zealand all progressed from the group phase of the competition with 100 per cent records and they are joined in the last eight by Australia, France, Italy, USA and Wales. 

England Still Out In Front In Quest For Global Glory

The pre-tournament favourites, England remain the side to beat in the eyes of most betting apps. 

At the moment, online rugby betting are offering odds of 1.44 on the Red Roses claiming their third World Cup crown - following their previous triumph in 1994 and 2014.

Their opponents in the last-eight - at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on Sunday - are Australia, who were runners-up to defending champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Aussies Clear Outsiders Against Red Roses

Given Jay Tregonning’s charges lost out to their southern hemisphere rivals on a scoreline of 41-17 in their opening game of the World Cup, it is easy to see why they are rank outsiders to progress into the last-four of the tournament for the first time since 2010.

Coming into the weekend’s fixture, the Aussies are rated at 21.0 to produce a shock victory. A draw is an even more unlikely proposition with the same bookmaker valuing a stalemate at 34.0.

In stark contrast, a handicap of -36.5 on England is available at odds of 1.8. This perhaps provides an illustration of the gulf that exists between both teams. 

To Australia’s credit, they bounced back from that reversal to New Zealand with morale-boosting triumphs against Scotland and Wales.

They also have an in-form player in the shape of winger Bienne Terita. After bagging a brace of tries in the New Zealand encounter, she also registered a crucial five-pointer in a 14-12 comeback victory over the Scots.

Yet there is a reason why their forthcoming opponents have claimed the last four Women’s Six Nations Championships and they set out their stall with consecutive Pool C successes at the expense of Fiji, France and South Africa.

While the likes of Claudia MacDonald, Rosie Galligan and Connie Powell made hay in facile wins over Fiji and South Africa, Emily Scarratt proved her enduring worth to the English cause by accumulating every single one of her side’s points in a 13-7 triumph against the French.

New Zealand Still Very Much In The Running

It may seem strange that New Zealand are only second favourites at 3.25 to win the World Cup with betting apps when you consider they are way out in front on the tournament’s roll honour with five titles, but there have been issues behind the scenes with the Black Ferns since the 2017 finals in Ireland.

However, they appear to be presenting a unified front under vastly-experienced head coach Wayne Smith and convincingly topped Pool A with three consecutive successes.

Having recently become the first female rugby player to score 200 tries in the World Sevens Series, Portia Woodman has carried that form into this World Cup with five tries in just two appearances to date.

Wales Second Best Ahead Of Their Rematch With Black Ferns

Because of the way the ranking system works, the Black Ferns will play Wales for the second time at this World Cup in the Northland Events Centre, Whangārei on Saturday. 

In their pool meeting at Auckland on October 16, the tournament hosts came away with a comfortable 56-12 victory.

With this in mind, it comes as little surprise that Wales are 67.0 to produce a giant-killing act against New Zealand. For the latter, there is a handicap bet of -44 on offer at odds of 1.91 with Betfair.

Sioned Harries is Wales’ current top try-scorer at this year’s World Cup thanks to her five-pointers in defeats to New Zealand and Australia. 

The Scarlets No 8 will need to be at her best if the Welsh are to stand any chance of making their second World Cup semi-finals and their first in 28 years.

French Expected To Make Semi-Finals

The third favourites for World Cup glory at 11.0 with bet365, France take on Italy in the only clash between non-group winners at the quarter-final stage. 

Their meeting in Whangārei will precede the clash of New Zealand and Wales at the same venue on Saturday.

Although they regularly clash in the Women’s Six Nations Championship, France are the clear frontrunners coming into this encounter. 

Bookmakers are offering 1.03 on a French win, meanwhile the odds available on Italy winning their first knockout World Cup game are set at 19.0. 

Draws are a rarity in the women’s edition of this global spectacle and this is reflected in the fact that a share of the spoils is valued at 51.0.

Canada And US Clash Provides Plenty Of Intrigue

From a geographical perspective, the clash of Canada and the United States in the last of the quarter-finals at Waitakere Stadium on Sunday goes down as the most intriguing of them all.

Runners-up in 2014, the Canadians also achieved consecutive fourth-place finishes in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 finals. 

They only managed fifth spot in Ireland five years ago, but the Maple Leafs accumulated three bonus point wins in Pool B and are fourth favourites for World Cup success at 27.0 on Unibet.

Despite operating in the front-row, hooker Emily Tuttosi is one of the most prolific performers at this World Cup with six tries to her name from two outings.

Like the New Zealand and Wales game, their upcoming clash with the US will be a quick renewal of acquaintances. 

Having already accrued two wins apiece, the north American rivals faced off for the right to top Pool B in Auckland last Sunday.

While Mikiela Nelson’s stoppage-time try added some gloss to the final scoreline, Canada came through this game with 15 points to spare (29-14). 

This was the United States’ second defeat of the pool - they also lost 22-10 to Italy - but a subsequent win over Japan was enough to make them one of the two best third-place teams.

Nonetheless, Canada are expected to come through their second clash with the US in the space of seven days. 

Bookmakers are offering odds of 1.1 on Kévin Rouet’s side sealing a last-four spot and, although you can get odds of 7.0 on a United States triumph, it would take a major turnaround from Rob Cain’s outfit to achieve this result. 

For those interested in the idea of a draw, there is a value of 15.0 available on this game ending all square.

Once this weekend’s action reaches a conclusion, we should have an even clearer picture of where the World Cup trophy will rest for the next three years.