Rugby World Cup: How are the favourites shaping up?

The Irish have arguably just had the most successful season in their history. Schmidt’s squad won the Six Nations and the Grand Slam.

They followed that up with their first series win against Australia down under for the first time ever. Leinster – filled with a number of the Irish squad – also won the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Schmidt has developed a squad rich with options in a number of positions. Led by Johnny Sexton, with a group of players sprinkled with high-class veterans and prodigious youngsters, Ireland are simmering nicely.

England – 11/2

It’s all gone a little pear-shaped for Eddie Jones’ England squad in the last 12 months or so. After an incredible start to his tenure, the Australian has now presided over six defeats in seven.

That included three defeats in the Six Nations, a defeat to the Barbarians, and a 2-1 series loss in South Africa. But all is not lost for Jones and England.

There is still a core of world-class players to build around. Maro Itoje remains one of the best players in the world. Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers could also be counted in that bracket.

Jones has looked to blood various new players including Elliot Daly and Tom Curry on the South Africa tour. And that could stand the squad in good stead come tournament time in the Far East.

But Jones still has a lot of work to do between then and now. And he’ll be looking to the November internationals and the Six Nations to sort it out.

Australia/South Africa – 9/1 & 14/1

The two Southern Hemisphere giants can’t be discounted but the odds suggest at present they have a lot of work to do.

And the odds would be right. Although the Springboks came away with a series win over England, it was on home soil. And we’ve already been at pains to point out, England are not in great shape right now.

Australia have also just lost to Ireland on home soil for the first time. The Wallabies were unlucky, though. And the series was actually tied on points over the three games.

The Rugby Championship kicks off in August and the pair will be looking to that tournament as major preparation for the showpiece next September.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing