RWC Quarterfinal Picks & Odds: England’s Title Odds Get Longer Ahead of Clash With Australia

• Entering the quarterfinals, New Zealand remain +110 favorites to win their third straight Rugby World Cup
• South Africa are the second betting choice at +325
• England check in as #3, but saw their odds lengthen from +400 to +440

Pool play is over and, as the Rugby World Cup enters the quarterfinals, oddsmakers are favoring one of the first matches of the tournament to also be the last match of the RWC.

New Zealand opened its defense of its RWC crown with a 23-13 win over South Africa. Those two teams advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament from Pool B and are, as a result, on opposite sides of the bracket.

Sportsbook list the two-time defending champion All Blacks as the +110 favorites to again win the tournament in its updated 2019 Rugby World Cup odds. The Springboks are the second choice at +325. Before getting to my predictions for the quarterfinal matchups, here’s the complete RWC futures board.

Odds To Win 2019 Rugby World Cup

Odds taken on 10/17/19. **Games canceled by typhoon were declared a draw.

Both New Zealand (+120 to +110) and South Africa (+400 to +325) saw their odds of winning the RWC improve.

However, England, the third choice in this betting market, saw its odds increase from +400 to +440. Not only will they face a stiff test from Australia in the quarterfinals, they find themselves on the same side of the bracket as New Zealand and Ireland.

Australia vs England RWC Quarterfinal Odds

*Odds taken 10/17/19

England have won six straight test matches from Australia. English manager Eddie Jones raised eyebrows with his selection for this match. He’s dropped fly half George Ford, clearly England’s best player in the RWC, in favor of veteran Owen Farrell.

Jones started all three matches in pool play, while Farrell has started in just one of England’s last seven internationals. The England boss has a history with the Aussies. He managed them until being sacked in 2005 following a 1-8 skid.

Australia lost to Wales in pool play and needed two late tries to make a 27-9 win over Georgia seem more lopsided than it actually was. But this moneyline is still too big to pass on.

Picks: Australia moneyline (+260) and Australia +8.5 (-110)

Ireland vs New Zealand RWC Quarterfinal Odds

The Irish have never advanced beyond the quarter-final stage of a RWC, and the odds of an exit here are strong. A stunning 19-12 loss to Japan left Ireland second in pool play, forcing them into an early showdown with the mighty All Blacks.

New Zealand hasn’t lost a RWC game since a 20-18 setback to France in the 2007 quarterfinals. While Ireland have won two of the last three test matches against the All Blacks, they aren’t playing at the same level in this tournament as they were when they earned those wins.

Pick: New Zealand (-550)

France vs Wales RWC Quarterfinal Odds

The French are rugby’s version of Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. they arrived in Japan off a 2-3 performance in the six Nations, and promptly beat Argentina 23-21.

The match with England was canceled due to Typhoon Hagibis, so France has yet to face a true test.

Wales won 24-19 at France at the Six Nations and are a perfect 4-0 in the RWC.

Pick: Wales (-285)

South Africa vs Japan RWC Quarterfinal Odds

The host team is the darling of the RWC after winning their pool and upsetting Ireland. Japan has a history with South Africa. They shocked the Springboks 34-32 as 42-point underdogs to open the 2015 RWC.

South Africa won’t be taking the Japanese lightly this time, though. The heft and power of the Springboks will overcome the speed and explosiveness of Japan.

Pick: South Africa (-600)