Can England cause a rugby betting upset?

The doubters are already bemoaning the chances of Brian Ashton’s men but do England have a chance of causing a rugby betting upset against South Africa in Paris on Friday?

England’s performance against the USA last week gave further ammunition to the doubters that England’s impression on this World Cup will be minimal. Already coming into the tournament with the unenviable tag of “worst defending champions”, the rugby betting markets seem to have written off England’s chances just as much as the rugby press have.

On Friday they had to Paris to face one of the pre-tournament rugby betting favourites in South Africa.

Coach Brian Ashton has seen his plans and resources stretched this week and they go into the crunch game without a recognised fly-half following injuries in training to both Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley and so in an unusual move, both Andrew Farrell and Mike Catt appear to be “sharing” the fly-half duties in Saint Denis.

That news won’t have English rugby betting fans racing to place their backing behind the world champions, especially against one of the best sides in the world and those who have backed a big win for South Africa may not be disappointed come Friday night.

Farrell has played in the stand-off position in his rugby league days for both Wigan and Great Britain, is an accomplished goal-kicker and is no stranger to the international stage, becoming the youngest ever Great Britain captain at just 21 years of age but the key position in the 15-man game is very much unchartered water for the Saracens man. In Mike Catt, he does have an experienced aide but the general feeling amongst rugby betting fans seems to be that against top quality opposition such as the Springboks, a world-class number 10 is vital.

In the weekend’s other games, Wales have a daunting clash with Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff whilst Ireland should have no trouble in Bordeaux as they face Georgia.

But the focus is very much on England with the doubters predicting a cricket score in favour of the Boks. The England camp are confident that they can be competitive and with the eyes of the rugby betting world on Saint Denis on Friday evening, check out the latest odds and bet on the rugby world cup today.

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