MyClubBetting.com experts offer their best sports bets throughout the Rugby League World Cup. Here’s the view on the big quarter-final clash between England and France…
Victory in one group game, by a single point. That was enough to get France through to Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup quarter-final tie with England at Wigan.
The 9-8 defeat of Papua New Guinea on Oct. 27 must seem like a distant memory for Les Chanticleers, who have since had their comeuppance at the hands of New Zealand (48-0) and Samoa (22-6).
Admittedly they came through a tough group in 2013. Yet the fact remains, they are averaging a mere five points per game in this tournament.
France reached the 1954 and 1968 World Cup finals, and played a brand of Rugby League that is still revered to this day.
More recent history favours England, whose only defeat came in the group opener, where they out-played Australia for long periods before falling 28-20. Since then, England have dispatched Ireland 48-0 and Fiji 34-12 – looking an improved side at each stage and in almost every facet of play.
Naturally enough, England are hot favourites at 1/200 to beat France, who are offered at 40/1 to pull off the upset. The draw is available at 150/1.
England have the strongest possible squad to take on France, having recalled Josh Charnley, the leading try-scorer in the 2013 Super League, who replaces Tom Briscoe.
England beat France 48-4 in the nations’ last meeting in November 2012 and England are considered 38-point favourites this time.
If you believe they can win by 39 points or more, back them at 10/11 via MyClubBetting.com. If you bet £10, you’ll receive a £20 free bet.
England’s last defeat came at the hands of Italy, a stunning 15-14 upset in the build-up to the World Cup. It serves as a reminder that any complacency can be punished.
Fueled by that embarrassment, England’s ‘White Wall’ rearguard have proved all but impregnable since and will fancy their chances of not only beating France, but also of downing world champion New Zealand in next week’s semi-final, should the Kiwis overcome Scotland.
England hold all the aces, with halves Kevin Sinfield and Rangi Chase as good an any pairing in the tournament, and prop Sam Burgess one of the strongest at the position.
But England will be tested by pacy France youngster Morgan Escare (above), who is a dangerous broken-field runner. The 22-year-old was shortlisted for the young player of the year award after a breakthrough season in the Super League for Catalan Dragons and his form, which has carried over to the World Cup, has lifted an otherwise disappointing France team.
France will try to dominate through their forwards, a unit heavily stocked with Catalan players, who know each other well. But the key to an England success is keeping the Escare shackled.
It may be a bigger struggle to break down France than the bookies predict, so backing England to score less than 8.5 tries at 8/11 looks a very viable betting proposition. Despite the overwhelming evidence to suggest a rout, France should be able to score at some stage and backing them to notch 6.5 points or more is on offer at 4/6.
We also like Kallum Watkins or Leroy Cudjoe (below) to score at any time, at respective odds of 4/7 and 8/11.
MyClubBetting.com offer a full range of markets on this game and the other quarter-final ties. If you sign up at MyClubBetting.com and bet £10 on any sport, you will immediately receive a £20 free bet. And should you lose on any future bets made via your MyClubBetting.com account, 20% of any net losses go to the Rugby Football League, thus benefiting grass roots rugby.
And for added incentive (if any were needed) there’s a great Money-Back Special bet: If the last conversion is missed in the England v France game, we’ll refund losing tryscorer bets on the match!
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