New Zealand are British bookmakers' favourites to become the first team to win the Rugby World Cup four times by beating South Africa later Saturday in a tournament that for at least one of them has seen "the largest stakes ever placed."
William Woodhams, CEO of the world's oldest bookmakers Fitzdares, told AFP that although his firm would lose money if the All Blacks win at the Stade de France it will be nothing compared to the losses if the Springboks prevail.
They stand to lose close to one million pounds ($1.2 million) due to the money placed on South Africa prior to the kickoff of the sport's quadrennial showpiece in France in September.
Northern hemisphere duo France and Ireland had been heavily backed but fell by the wayside losing to South Africa and New Zealand respectively in the quarter-finals.
The Springboks then edged England -- who were friendless in the betting market -- 16-15 in the semi-finals to set up a duel with fellow three-time winners New Zealand.
"There was not a penny bet on England!" said Woodhams.
"Our whole office has been cheering on France, can you believe it, and then a surprise to us all England as the liability of South Africa winning the tournament is not far from seven figures.
"We lose money if New Zealand win but nothing compared to a South Africa win.
"We will be crossing every finger that they lose.
"Watching England lose was heart-breaking in every sense of the term."
Woodhams added that aside from a rare upset "it was terrible (for us) in the group stages with pretty consistent results."
He blamed the "terrible draw" done in 2020 which left one half of it packed with leading teams.
"Hopefully we will see a better organised tournament next time," he said.
- Interest picking up -
Woodhams has had one good omen going into the final.
Owen Farrell's 16 points in England's 26-23 win over Argentina in the third place play-off on Friday took him past France's Thomas Ramos as the leading scorer (75-74) and a punter had placed 10,000 pounds at 3/1 on the Frenchman.
That large sum reflected a rise in interest in the tournament as it has progressed, said Woodhams.
"It's getting much better and we've seen the largest stakes ever on the tournament," he said.
"Club rugby has never captured the imagination of punters but the Rugby World Cup really does.
"It's way behind the football Euros but it's certainly picking up.
"That said, our book on the outright tournament winner is bigger than the Derby and Grand National combined would be."
Punters are already looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, he added.
"There have been a lot of bets on England for the next World Cup after their match against South Africa," he said.
"I was amazed that South Africa's price didn't change even after they lost to Ireland (13-8 in the pool stage).
"Shows the bookies know what they are talking about!"
However, with the next World Cup to be enlarged to 24 teams, Woodhams is unconvinced that it will ensure a marked increase in stakes placed.
"I'm not sure," he said. "England being so weak going into the tournament meant that the punters took some time to get really into it.
"With a stronger England we will see more money.
"I'm not sure there will be an increase in stakes with more teams."
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