Following numerous delays, the Rugby World Cup will take place in the autumn of 2023. Initially, the Rugby World Cup was to take place two years ago. But the pandemic-related health concerns caused numerous delays. France will serve as the host nation for the third time in history. Last time France hosted the Rugby World Cup was in 2007. Hence, that host status helped make France a favorite with the Rugby betting odds. Each team will be granted a minimum of five days rest between matches. Subsequently, the 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris.
2023 Rugby World Cup
| Date and Time: | September 8, 2023, through October 28, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location: | France |
| Defending Champion | South Africa (2019 Final) |
2023 Rugby World Cup Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| France | +250 |
| New Zealand | +306 |
| South Africa | +450 |
| England | +500 |
| Ireland | +800 |
| Australia | +900 |
| Wales | +1800 |
| Scotland | +2800 |
| Argentina | +7000 |
| Fiji | +15000 |
2023 Rugby World Cup Overview
South Africa captured its third Rugby World Cup championship by defeating a favored England team. Hence, South Africa continued its online betting dominance of teams from the Southern Hemisphere in the tournament.
The South Africans broke open a tight defensive struggle late in the second half. Behind tries by Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe. Also, South Africa won the title in 1995 and 2007. It is the only country to win every Rugby World Cup final it has contested.
First half action was a battle of attrition with the Rugby lines. Each side delivered punishing tackles, and several players left the game early with injuries. But it was the powerful South African forward pack that set the tone. Indeed, South Africa forced England into several penalties during scrums. Subsequently, that contributed to a 12-6 South Africa lead at halftime on four penalty goals from flyhalf Handré Pollard. The England captain, Owen Farrell, converted two penalty goals for the English.
Six minutes into the second half, South Africa won another penalty at the scrum. And then Pollard converted a long-range kick to make it 15-6. But England turned the tables with another kick by Farrell that made it 15-9. At that moment, the English appeared to seize momentum. But South Africa held off the English. And then Mapimpi broke free on the left wing in the 67th minute. He delivered a kick pass that bounced into the arms of a charging Lukhanyo Am. Subsequently, Am scooped up the ball and immediately shoveled it back to Mapimpi, who took it over for the game’s first try.
Rugby Conclusion
Finally, Kolbe sealed the victory in the 74th minute. He got the ball on the right wing some 40 yards out and danced around several defenders for the try that put the game out of reach. Pollard’s conversion produced the final 32-12 score.
As a result, South Africa became the first team to win the World Cup after losing a match in the pool stage. The Springboks were defeated by New Zealand, the two-time defending champion, in their opening game in Japan.
In turn, South Africa’s third World Cup title had echoes of its first. To show, its 1995 title was a turning point for South African rugby and the country more broadly. Correlate South Africa had emerged from the sporting isolation of the apartheid era.
Siya Kolisi, the first black Springboks captain, led a 31-man team. Including 11 black or mixed-race players. Six of those players started Saturday’s final.