Springboks edging closer to World Cup favourites tag

Local bookmakers Hollywoodbets have listed France as the favourites but the Springboks are moving closer according to the odds.

The Springboks face a mission impossible as they look to defend their Rugby World Cup crown. The group draw has been unkind to the defending champions but such is their strength in depth, the bookmakers cannot discard them.

The hosts are now at 28/10 to win the World Cup.

That is marginally better than the next best team being the All Blacks, who are priced up at 3/1 with Ireland and South Africa tipped at 4/1 to win the World Cup.

So as it stands, and ahead of the Rugby Championship, it appears the Springboks are not so far off the pace.

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RASSIE ERASMUS CONFIDENT AHEAD OF RUGBY WORLD CUP

The Springboks are among the contenders for the 2023 Rugby World Cup crown, but there is a different feeling heading into the tournament this time around.

“The nice thing about this group is we have been together for a long time. We are very realistic and we don’t often get dragged into what people are saying or thinking,” Erasmus said.

“We know realistically that in 2019 we were sort of the underdogs going into the World Cup. But now we are world champions and we have to go and try and defend that.

“We feel we have as good a chance (as anyone else) … but we are under no illusions … Australia under Eddie (Jones), New Zealand, Ireland, who are number one (in the world), France are number two, you can go right through to Scotland.”

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SPRINGBOK 2023 FIXTURES:

Castle Lager Rugby Championship:

Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)

Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)

Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures:

Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)

Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

Rugby World Cup fixtures:

Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)

Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)

Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals

Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals

Saturday, 28 October – Final