World Cup Hosts Poor Value To Lift Rugby's Biggest Prize

The highlight of the rugby union calendar is the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off in Auckland on 9th September

This will be the seventh staging of the world's premier rugby event.

The first global tournament was held in 1987 since when Australia (2), South Africa (2), New Zealand (1) and England (1) have all lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.

The action gets underway on September 9th in Auckland, when the hosts New Zealand take on Tonga.

In all 20 countries will compete over a six week period, played across 11 different venues (Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Invercargill, Dunedin, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Nelson, Rotorua).

The new world champions will eventually be decided in the World Cup Final - again played at Eden Park in Auckland - on October 23rd.

Are The All-Blacks The Team To Beat?

Well, the betting would certainly suggest that.

However, despite producing some of the best players of the last 20-30 years, and having been widely regarded as the 'best' team in the world, the New Zealanders have a distinctly poor record in the World Cup.

Their sole victory came when the Kiwis jointly hosted the event with Australia back in 1987. Since then five more tournaments have come and gone without any further All-Black success.

Last time out, France 2007, they went out to the hosts in the quarter-finals. They lost in the semi-finals in 2003, 1999 and 1991. In fact, their last final appearance was some 16 years ago in South Africa.

Odds of just 4/6 for Graham Henry's New Zealand side, given those stats, and the pressure of being the home side that everybody expects to win... it all makes that price look a bit skinny.

More so after the hosts recently lost out in the 2011 Tri Nations tournament - Australia taking the annual Southern Hemisphere competition with a 25-20 win in Brisbane.

Who Else Can Win The World Cup?

Naturally the betting heavily favours Australia and South Africa.

South Africa claimed the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003

These two countries have two wins apiece in the World Cup already, are playing 'at home' in the Southern Hemisphere and possess squads with plenty of strength in depth.

Australia (7/2) and South Africa (8/1) merit close attention with the Wallabies, especially, ones to note.

As for the Six Nations representatives... hard to make a case out for any apart from France and England. The French have made two finals (1987 & 1999) whilst the English have made three (famously winning Down Under in 2003).

They've got a chance... but at 16/1 (France) and 18/1 (England) that chance is slim!

Time To Place Your Bets...

With the action starting in just a few weeks it will be very interesting to see how the sports betting experts view these finals and what rugby betting tips are given for the World Cup.

>> Click here for latest Rugby World Cup odds

What we do know... is with the home side being such a short price there is definitely value on offer elsewhere in the tournament.

And that's what our own sports betting analyst, Keith Elliott, will be covering before the action starts in Auckland.

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