France World Cup Rugby betting preview

France are rated around $34 chances with most betting sites to win the Rugby World Cup in Japan, which is probably the biggest price they have started at the tournament.

They are no doubt sick of hearing this line but the fact remains Les Bleus are the most unpredictable team in world rugby; their best good enough to match it with anyone, their worst bad enough to consign them to shock defeats against the lower-rated nations.

The WGL rugby team believes that, unfortunately for the French, this time they will settle on the latter category and will not make it out of the group stages.

Still, don’t feel too bad for the sporting fans of France. They hold the football World Cup and that should be more than enough! No need to be greedy.

France won only two of their five matches at the Six Nations earlier this year and really need to find something extra to go on a run at the World Cup.

Les Bleus are drawn in a tough group, and we feel they have little chance against England and slightly lean towards the tough Argentina to get the better of them in their first-up clash in Tokyo on September 21.

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Where France will finish in the 2019 Rugby World Cup

WGL prediction: Eliminated in group stage. They could surprise us and it would not be the first time, but we feel the French just don’t have the form on the board to contend in Japan.

Previous best World Cup result: Runners-up 1987, 1999, 2011

France’s Rugby World Cup draw

Match 3: France v Argentina, Saturday, Sep 21, Pool C, Tokyo Stadium
Match 19: France v United States, Wednesday, Oct 2, Pool C, Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Match 28: France v Tonga, Sunday, Oct 6, Pool C, Kumamoto Stadium
Match 35: England v France, Saturday, Oct 12, Pool C, International Stadium Yokohama

France’s most recent results

February 1: Wales 24 d France 19, Six Nations, Stade de France, Paris
February 10: England 44 d France 8, Six Nations, Twickenham, London
February 23: France 27 d Scotland 10, Six Nations, Stade de France, Paris
March 10: Ireland 26 d France 14, Six Nations, Lansdowne Road, Dublin
March 16: France 25 d Italy 14, Six Nations, Rome
August 17: France 32 d Scotland 3, Scotland tour, Nice, France
August 24: Scotland 17 d France 14, France tour, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
August 30: France 47 d Italy 19, Italy tour, Stade de France, Paris

France’s record against Pool C rivals

Engand: Played 105: won 40, lost 58, drawn 7. Points for: 1336, Points against: 1702
Argentina: Played 51: won 36, lost 14, drawn 1. Points for: 1243, Points against: 797
USA: Played 7: won 6, lost 1. Points for: 181, Points against: 93
Tonga: Played 5: won 3, lost 2. Points for: 149, Points against: 75

France squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Coach: Jacques Brunel

Forwards: Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Demba Bamba, Emerick Setiano, Cyril Baille, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Camille Chat, Peato Mauvaka, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Gabrillagues, Arthur Iturria, Bernard Le Roux, Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Louis Picamoles, Yacouba Camara, Wenceslas Lauret.

Backs: Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Serin, Maxime Machenaud, Camille Lopez, Romain Ntamack, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Sofiane Guitoune, Virimi Vakatawa, Yoann Huget, Alivereti Raka, Damian Penaud, Maxime Medard, Thomas Ramos.

Leading try-scorer prediction for France

Yoann Huget: The veteran Toulouse winger is a prolific try-scorer for his club team and also stepped it up during the Six Nations earlier this year, crossing for a try in four of France’s five matches. It is something of an Indian summer for the 32-year-old, who played a lot of fullback earlier. He’s the man on the end of a lot of French back-line moves so keep an eye out for him in the anytime try-scorer markets when Les Bleus play. Also, he seems good value at around $5.50 in the newly opened markets on who will be the leading tournament try-scorer for France at the World Cup.

France predictions – can Les Bleus rise again?

France have done it before, where they have risen against the odds to reach the final of this tournament, when they seemed out of form and out of their depth. No doubt they are a great tournament team. For us their whole tournament goes on the line in their first match against Argentina. They must come out firing because we don’t like their chance of beating England, given the recent clashes between the teams. As always a great team to watch for entertainment value, but we won’t be wagering on them this time.

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