England Rugby World Cup Odds Shortened By Bookies

Georgia? Georgia? Yes, those guys who were locked in war wit the Russians for years showed the same kind of determination to push England hard. Martin Johnson should be concerned about the inability of his charges to put together a convincing effort and beat a team with barely any top flight professionals in their ranks.

Were England too cocky, thinking that they simply needed to turn up for the game?

The Bookies for the most part have not taken much notice of England apparent lack of form with William Hill cutting their outright odds from 16/1 to 11/1.

It is however worth remembering that in 2007 England were at times hapless and still made the final, so there is some logic in backing them to beat all their Northern Hemisphere opponents on their way to the final (assuming of course that England doesn't end up on the other side of the draw or that one of the South Hemisphere teams somehow end up on England's side. Both these are unlikely events.)

Meanwhile South Africa has started to look threatening. Admittedly their last two games were only against Fiji and Namibia but these weren't victories but rather annihilation of the opposition. The bookies by and large have kept their odds at 9/1.

This weekend, England are 1/7 at William Hill to beat Scotland (4/1). The odds of an England win are only that short only really because the Scots have been terrible.

Odds to win Rugby World Cup at William Hill:

• 1/2 New Zealand
• 7/1 Australia
• 9/1 S Africa
• 11/1 England
• 12/1 France
• 20/1 Ireland
• 28/1 Wales

England have not covered the handicap in one of their games, so the bookies should love them at the moment.

We're not convinced by England one little bit. Too much off-field nonsense and too little structure on the field where it matters. Money on England to win the Cup is just not money well spent right now.