Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011: 12bet looks at the Group Stages


Pool A
New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan.
This pool is all about the hosts and favourites, New Zealand and their perennial saboteurs, France. The All Blacks are clear favourites for the title, despite their latter displays in the Tri Nations. The question still remains though as to whether New Zealand can perform well when in a tight game, something they have failed to do so on previous occasions, most notably against France in Cardiff four years ago. 
A problem exacerbated in front of an expectant home crowd. France meanwhile, must overcome their chronic inconsistency- on their day they are world beaters, but lose to New Zealand in the pool stage and they are likely to face England in the Quarter-finals. France will feel that despite poor form in this year’s Six Nations, that they can beat New Zealand on their own patch after victory there last summer.
 Among the lesser sides, look out for Tonga and Northampton’s Soane Tonga’uiha, the colossal, bulldozing unit of a prop who is the star of a very psychical Tongan side.

Odds offered as of Sept 7 at 12bet.com

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