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By Robert Duff in Rugby
Updated: March 30, 2020 at 9:38 am EDTPublished:
When it comes to rugby, Wales is the little nation that could. With a population base of just 3.15 million people, Wales ranks second in the world heading toward the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
Wales is the -165 favorite to win Group D of the RWC in Japan. The Welsh haven’t won their pool since 1999. In Rugby World Cup odds overall, they are given +600 odds to win the title.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Wales | -165 |
| Australia | +135 |
| Fiji | +6600 |
| Georgia | +25000 |
| Uruguay | +50000 |
*Odds taken on 07/19/19.
Australia and Wales were both in Group A at the 2105 RWC. Australia (4-0) won the pool over Wales (3-1) by virtue of a 15-6 victory over the Welsh side.
Coach Warren Gatland’s team has won 14 successive matches, a new record for the country in international play. This run of success has moved the Welsh up to second in the world behind only New Zealand.
Wales last suffered defeat at the hands of Ireland in the 2018 Six Nations tournament. While on their record 14-game run, Wales has beaten every team rated among the world’s top eight except for the All Blacks.
On November 10, 2018, Wales defeated Australia 9-6. It was their first win against the Aussies since November 29th, 2008, ending a 13-match losing streak.
Wales has twice reached the semifinal stage at Rugby World Cups, in 1987 and 2011.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is on the hot seat as the Rugby World Cup approaches. Australia won just four of 13 test matches last year, their worst record since 1958.
That’s led to significant change in Cheika’s staff and the personnel on the field. Attack coach Stephen Larkham is out. With the Rugby Championship about to begin against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, Cheika named just five players from the side that lost 37-18 to England in Australia’s last game.
Star back Israel Folau, who scored 32 tries for the Aussies, was sacked from the side after posting homophobic tweets in April. He’s suing Rugby Australia for $10 million.
No one need warn Wales that the Fijians can be dangerous foes. Wales handled Fiji 23-13 in pool play at the 2015 RWC but in 2007, Fiji stunned Wales 38-34, knocking the Welsh out of the tournament.
Fiji is 1-9-1 all-time against the Welsh and 2-18-1 in matches against Australia. They’ve reached the quarterfinals of the RWC in 1987 and 2007.
Rugby is a hugely popular sport in Georgia and the play of the team is improving by leaps and bounds. But the Georgians still aren’t ready to run with the big dogs of the sport.
Georgia is 1-2 against Fiji, and 0-1 against Wales. The Georgians have never played Australia.
The Uruguayans made history at the 2015 Rugby World Cup – they scored their first try in the tournament in 12 years.
In their fourth RWC, Uruguay is 2-1 all-time, with victories over Spain (1999) and Georgia (2003). But they’ve lost five straight and been outscored 337-41 in the process.
SBD’s 2019 Rugby World Cup Coverage
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
Updated: 6 hours ago
