Ireland sixth favourites for World Cup

Ireland will go into the World Cup sixth favourites with England having been installed as favourites for a final appointment with New Zealand in Sydney next month.

Clive Woodward’s squad, a distant 10/1 chance in the 1999 World Cup, are 6/4 second favourites behind the All Blacks.

Following in their wake are host nation Australia (5/1), followed by France (10/1), South Africa (20/1) and Ireland (40/1), with Scotland 150/1 and Wales an improbable 250/1.

“Bookmakers are very reticent to lay any more about England,” said Balthazar Fabricius, of Ladbrokes.

“Here is a team that has a very credible chance of winning the tournament, and they have certainly been backed to do so. We would be well and truly knobbled if Clive Woodward’s men got the job done.