2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has been a glittering affair. The world’s top teams have showcased their mettle in hard-fought contests that have now boiled down to the final 2 teams. The host nation, New Zealand, has gone unbeaten in every match leading to the final. Their team has stood tall, mighty in the face of whatever competition was thrown at them. In the run-up to the final match slated for the 23rd October at 21h00 New Zealand time, the Kiwis have shown imperious form amongst the log leaders in the standings and Internet bookmakers feel the same way with their betting odds.

They have completely outplayed every single team they have faced. Anyone wanting to place a bet on this team is virtually assured of a victory, albeit at a low payout rate. Online bookmakers have been firmly behind the home team in most every encounter in the 2011 RWC. In their opening Pool A series of games, they played 4 and won 4. The All Blacks scored 240 points and only 49 points were scored against them. All Blacks’ opponents were ground into the dust by a long margin. If the past is a predictor of the future, the All Blacks are going to go right through to the winners’ podium.

The scorecards standings read as follows:
• 9th September – All Blacks 41 - Tonga 10
• 16th September – All Blacks 83 – Japan 7
• 24th September – All Blacks 37 – France 17
• 2nd October – All Blacks 79 – Canada 15

That the All Blacks already have the upper hand over France is noteworthy. The French were outplayed, outgunned and outmuscled by the brute force and scintillating form of the Kiwis on the 24th September, but enough time has passed for the French to lick their wounds and recover for game day. The All Blacks wasted no time and spared no effort in categorically dismantling the brutal Argentinean attack in the quarter-final on the 9th October. The Pumas were run into the ground by the blistering fury of the All Black pack. The end result read: All Blacks 33 – Argentina 10.

Even the mighty Wallabies – who were fielding a young team of talented rugby professionals, were no match for the All Blacks. Their semi-final RWC tour came to a crashing halt at the hands of the hosts. The end result read: New Zealand 20 – Australia 6. In fairness, the Aussies deserved some credit because they managed to hold off former World Cup Champions South Africa to a nail-biting thriller in the quarter-final. For their part though, the hosts look set to totally pile-drive the competition into the dirt, but the French have other designs.

The Pride of France in the Land of the Kiwi

Les Bleus arrived in Auckland keen to impress. This they did with aplomb in a series of glittering fixtures. They have played skillful rugby; games replete with plenty of passing, running and try-scoring opportunities. The French team has for the most part displayed courage under fire and they are clearly a top competitor and likely candidates to bring the RWC back to the Northern Hemisphere.

The southern domination of world rugby has clearly upset the equilibrium and the Europeans for their part have been counting on Wales, France, England and Ireland to impress. This they certainly did. But it was Les Bleus that made it to the finals and they deserve their final berth alongside the mighty All Blacks. A series of tough fixtures peppered the path of the French team to the finals. The sports results have spoken for themselves and the French have much to be proud of:

• 10th September – France 47 – Japan 21
• 18th September – France 46 – Canada 19
• 24th September – France 17 – New Zealand 37
• 1st October – France 14 – Tonga 19

The French results for their fixtures in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals have produced far better results. Punters who placed bets on France would have been well pleased with the betting outcomes:
• 8th October – France 19 – England 12 (Quarter Final Match)
• 15th October – France 9 – Wales 8 (Semi Final Match)

What these fixtures and results do show however is that the French have clearly been the weaker of the teams to reach the finals. Based on their history though, the French will certainly fight to the bitter end. Victories over England and Wales will give them tremendous confidence ahead of their epic encounter against the home team on the 23rd October at 21h00. Any good predictor of sports results would clearly put the odds in the All Blacks corner – but it’s a game after all!

*Top online bookmakers are gearing up for a bumper betting finale with all manner of free bets and free betting odds for live in-play selections for the Rugby World Cup clash. Bookmakers of professional and amateur tiers are welcome to try their luck in multiple betting selections at leading bookmakers online.