Betfair Official Blog

ENGLAND V SAMOA betting and odds preview

England will be odds on to beat unfancied opponents Samoa when the betting for this Pool A clash in Nantes on September 22 develops.

The Samoans, currently ranked 10th in the world but always popular in the betting, have contested every World Cup since 1991 in England when they reached the quarter-finals - as they did four years later in South Africa when they also reached the last-eight stage of the quadrennial event.

That year, they beat Argentina and Italy, two nations to consider for a bet, en route to the knockout phase of the competition before they were eventually humbled by the odds-on hosts and eventual winners.

They are also caused a betting stir at the 1999 World Cup when they beat host nation and odds-on Wales 38-31 in the pool stages, before crashing to Scotland in the quarter-final play-off.

Their progress over that period cemented their place amongst the game's elite and you can bet they will be a handful as the betting for this year's tournament in France gets moving.

Punters fancying an outside bet should note that Samoa have been based at Loughborough University since their arrival from Auckland and they will have been doing their homework on short-odds England, who should have too much for their opponents.

They lost to Harlequins but beat Northampton and Sale as part of their pre-World Cup itinerary but will head for their base in Courtyard Neuilly, Paris, in good heart.

They are now coached by All Blacks legend Michael Jones and he will be looking to veteran Brian Lima, who is playing in his fifth World Cup, to instill his leadership qualities on Samoa.

Jones has his sights set on a third quarter-final appearance, but to do this Samoa will have to beat either South Africa or England, two nations who are likely to be towards the top of the betting markets.

Semo Sititi, always a popular bet to points score, will again captain the side from number 8 in what will be his third World Cup, while prop Kasiano Lealamanua, hooker Mahroni Schwalger, scrum half Steve So'oialo and wing Lome Fa'atau are returning for their second tournament and could prove a good bet to get amongst the points.

Those pondering a bet might consider that England and Samoa met at the last World Cup at the pool stages and long-odds Samoa had threatened a betting upset when they led for most of the game, only to lose 35-22 as their tournament came to an end.