The 2019 Rugby World Cup, which is being hosted in Japan and begins on September 2nd, 2019, has the pools for the tournament set out. The draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup was done in May 2017 and the twenty participating nations will be split over four groups with the top two from each making their way through to the quarter-final knockouts.
Reigning World Champions New Zealand appear to be happy enough with their draw, while Ireland and Australia can also be relatively happy with the pools they have been drawn in.
For England though, they were drawn in the group that nobody really wanted to be in, as they will take on France and Argentina. England, now coached by Eddie Jones who has led them to back to back Six Nations Grand Slam titles, will be targeting redemption. At the 2015 Rugby World Cup on home soil, England failed miserably not even managing to get out of the group stage. But now they are a different beast, they are running on a different mentality and despite a tricky draw, they are trading as a 7/2 second-favourites at Bet365 for 2019 Rugby World Cup betting. New Zealand are up as 11/10 outright favourites.
2019 Rugby World Cup Betting odds
New Zealand 11/10, England 7/2, Australia 11/2, Ireland 6/1, South Africa 10/1, France 20/1, Wales 201/, Argentina 25/1, Scotland 40/1, bar 125/1
Pool A
Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, Play-off Winner
The Irish will be more than happy with the draw that they have received in this one. Although they were beaten by Scotland in the 2017 RBS Six Nations, and they will go against a Japan side who thrilled in the 2015 World Cup, winning three of their four group stage matches including an opening dramatic win over South Africa, the men in green are favourites for this pool. Ireland are the more consistent and reliable of the pack and Scotland will have new head coach Gregor Townsend going into his first big test. Ireland and Scotland know each other well of course, but at the top tier, Ireland will be expected to win the group, with Scotland following them through. Japan should challenge on home soil, but they have a new head coach in Jamie Joseph so are a little of an unknown quantity at the moment.
Prediction: Ireland win, Scotland qualify
Pool B
New Zealand South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, Repechage Winner
The All Blacks will be delighted with the group that they have received. Even though it looks as if they have a heavyweight showdown against South Africa, the Proteas are going in the wrong direction and would not only have to stop a bad rot that has crept into their game but also turn that around and get themselves back to a positive, powerful state. That’s not likely to happen in the next two years for them. But what will help New Zealand qualify is that Italy was extremely poor in the 2017 RBS Six Nations and they aren’t blooding enough new talent through their ranks to raise their game. They beat South Africa in a test in November 2016, but will probably be beaten to the punch by South Africa in 2019.
Prediction: New Zealand win, South Africa qualify
Pool C
England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2
So England will have a tough couple of battles in their group to get through to the knockout stage. They will be taking on France and Argentina which won’t be the easiest of matches under pressure. Argentina are one of those nations in the world who can be very unpredictable and produce a top scrap against the better sides on their day. But much like Italy, they aren’t a youthful side and there is no sign of youth coming through. As for France, they have been on the ropes for a couple of years, but their performances at the 2017 RBS Six Nations showed that they are just starting to turn the corner. So if they continue on that trajectory down the line, they have a chance of showing up well as they usually do in World Cups. France aren’t traditionally good travellers though and you would still expect the Red Rose, who has plenty of time to evolve their young side even further, to get better still. Regardless, both England and France would have liked easier passage to the quarter-finals.
Prediction: England win, France qualify
Pool D
Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2
This is probably the most open of the World Cup 2019 pools. Australia are always good when it comes to the World Cup, but they aren’t anything special at the moment though. They are going through a rough time in their domestic game at the moment and need to just get themselves a little more organised and settled. But they will show up and play but Wales, as long as Warren Gatland sticks with them, will be in the same boat really. They will have the potential going into the group and the big showdown with the Wallabies will be the key match there. Australia and Wales both saw their 2015 World Cup campaigns suffer because of injury issues. There is a minor threat from Georgia, who want participation in the Six Nations and are an evolving nation. Their big game will be against Wales.
Prediction: Wales win, Australia qualify
Quarter Final Knockouts Format
Winner Pool A v Runner Up Pool B
Winner Pool D v Runner Up Pool C
Winner Pool B v Runner Up Pool A
Winner Pool C v Runner Up Pool D
Predictions
It is hard to see a great deal of upset happening across the pool stage of 2018 Rugby World Cup betting. The major nations should have enough nous and quality in depth to get through their respective challenges. If you take New Zealand out of the picture, then the other top eight sides in the world are all capable of beating each other on their day.
It is going to be important to land group wins, to increase chances of making it through to the quarter-finals. England, for example, will want to top their tough group to avoid New Zealand until the semi-finals. Although if England finished as runners-up in their group, they would arguably have an easier run to the final, avoiding New Zealand until then.
New Zealand who are Bet365 11/10 outright favourites are still head and shoulders the best side in the world and they are the ones to beat without question. England, if they stay on course under Jones and can add maturity to their game over the next couple of years could be right up there. Australia and Wales can make impacts, but will ultimately fall short most likely, but they should be quarter final locks, and Ireland could be the ones, thanks to the master tactician that head coach Joe Schmidt is, who are the best option from the chasing pack at the moment at a price of 6/1.
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