By Gareth James
Wales record victory over Australia has seen their odds on winning the World Cup almost halve overnight.
Warren Gatland’s red wall shut out the Aussies with a record 40-6 triumph that has seen their price on lifting the trophy drop from 40/1 before the game to just 22/1 this morning (Mon).
Leading Welsh bookmakers DragonBet have seen a surge of bets placed on Wales to go all the way to the final in Paris on October 28.
Wales are now sixth favourites to win the World Cup, behind joint-favourites Ireland and South Africa, France, New Zealand and England.
Big win 🙌🏻
— DragonBet (@DragonBetWales) September 24, 2023
Wales now have 12 days to get ready for their final Pool C match against Georgia, with qualification already secured and a likely quarter-final meeting with Argentina to follow.
James Lovell, director at DragonBet said: “We pushed Wales out to 50/1 before the tournament and even at those odds there weren’t many bets bar the odd heart-before-head patriotic type.
“But last night’s performance has ignited the fire in the Welsh gamblers with an avalanche of bets post-match and all morning.
“That’s forced the price into 22/1.
“They’ve gone from a winning result for us, to an absolute financial disaster.
“Sometimes, though, even us bookies don’t mind losing and we’ll be cheering them all the way to glory.”
It’s strange being a Welsh bookie
We’ve done our absolute nuts in but loved every minute of this game! #CymruAmByth
— DragonBet (@DragonBetWales) September 24, 2023
After their gripping weekend pool victory over reigning champions South Africa, Andy Farrell’s Ireland are co-favourites with the Springboks at 11/4.
Then come hosts France, who have drifted to 10-3 after the injury to his jaw suffered by their superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont against Namibia.
New Zealand, who face Italy on Friday having lost their opening pool match to France, are fourth favourites at 4/1.
Just ahead of Wales are England, who have beaten Argentina, Japan and Chile so far in their pool and look destined to meet Fiji in the quarter-finals.
Both Argentina and Fiji are priced at 33/1.
As for under-fire Eddie Jones and the Aussies, they are not yet mathematically out of the tournament, but their chances of progression out of Pool C is reflected in their price as potential winners, which is now 500/1.
Love this ⤵️pic.twitter.com/AMaCk7oobp
— DragonBet (@DragonBetWales) September 24, 2023
Odds to win the Rugby World Cup:
(Odds supplied by DragonBet)
Ireland 11/4
South Africa 11/4
France 10/3
New Zealand 4/1
England 10/1
Wales 22/1
Argentina 33/1
Fiji 33/1
Scotland 80/1
Italy 400/1
Australia 500/1
Japan 500/1