All Blacks Rugby World Cup Odds: What Odds Are New Zealand to Win The Rugby World Cup?

Congratulations (so far) if you backed New Zealand to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) prior to the staging of the quarter-finals, for you’ve probably got triple the odds or thereabouts when compared with their price to win the final with betting sites against South Africa in Paris this weekend.

Whereas the Springboks laboured through a somewhat fortunate win over England thanks to a late penalty kick from Handrè Pollard, New Zealand had it all too easy against Argentina winning both halves comfortably for a 44-6 triumph that “delighted” head coach Ian Foster.

It was a foolish move to write them off immediately after heavy defeats to both South Africa before the RWC and to France in the first week of the tournament.

Particularly as Foster has already been through enormous trials and tribulations as the All Blacks manager - such as their maiden home series loss to Ireland - only to build them back up into one of the most formidable outfits in world rugby.

In fact, “building” is the word Foster used to describe the pool stage when he said the hardest part of the tournament is now behind New Zealand. 

He was especially happy with their “composure” against Argentina when the pressure was on and believes that’s one key aspect of their game that will hold them in good stead in yet another RWC final.

Favourites For The First Time Since Opening French Loss

Given the contrasting experiences of the semi-final weekend for both sides, the best rugby betting sites have rated the All Blacks a two-point favourite for the Rugby World Cup final this Saturday.

There was little to separate the quartet of France, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa before the tournament and throughout the pool stage as far as the bookmakers were concerned, though New Zealand had drifted slightly following their week one loss to the host nation.

New Zealand has an 8-1 record as favourites in 2023 albeit with most of those wins coming against much easier opposition, but they were by far the most formidable attacking unit throughout the competition with 253 points in the group stage before adding another 72 against the stronger pairing of Ireland and Argentina.

They average 11 more points per game than the Springboks this calendar year, but carry into the final the same average of 15 conceded per match as their opponents. 

Add to that the Springboks’ difficulties and energy expended in getting through their two finals, as well as some tough pool stage assignments against Scotland (18-3 win) and Ireland (13-8 loss) and it’s little wonder bookies consider the All Blacks stronger.

Competing For History As Well As Immediate Glory

Meeting in a RWC final for the first time since 1995, one of these nations will become the first to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time and just the second to do so after losing a pool stage game.

It is in fact the first final ever contested where neither side carries an unbeaten record to the final weekend, adding further to the pre-game intrigue.

South Africa can claim to have had the most difficult road to a RWC final of any team in history thanks to the well documented lopsided draw, having already met the third (Ireland), fourth (France), fifth (England) and sixth (Scotland) ranked teams on the IRB world rankings.

None of them were easy adversaries. Now, despite being the world’s number one ranked nation, they will walk out onto the Stade de France in front of 80,000 spectators as underdogs with betting apps.

Fittingly, a loss here by any margin will see them relinquish that number one spot to New Zealand. Who says world rankings don’t mean anything?

One Last Step To Redemption For Ian Foster - Or Is There?

From faceless Twitter accounts to TV pundits, the demands to sack head coach Foster following New Zealand’s series loss to Ireland in July 2022 were relentless and widespread.

A home loss to Argentina in an otherwise successful 2022 Rugby Championship tilt didn’t help despite the overarching satisfaction of a title win, whilst the All Blacks struggled to contain sides such as Wales and Scotland in their northern hemisphere tour last year even despite coming out on top.

Even former Rugby New Zealand CEO David Moffett was amongst those calling for Foster’s head last year, describing the decision to stick with the beleaguered coach through to the Rugby World Cup as “the soft option”. How wrong they all were.

Foster convinced the board to hold off any turnover until after the tournament, confirming in March that he will be handing the reins over to Scott Robertson after the tournament, meaning this will be his final match in charge.

Regardless of the outcome, the Waikato legend has exceeded expectations and can probably afford a humble brag or two when the dust settles on what promises to be a fantastic final.