England to get past France – then it’s the end of the road

SPORTS BETTING: A TEAM containing pub revellers against a rabble at loggerheads with their coach.

That’s the scenario in place for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final between England and France.

England coach Martin Johnson has spent most of his time apologising for the behaviour of his players while they have been out on the town, while the French personnel are basically refusing to communicate with their leader, Marc Lievremont.

I could go on for ages about the responsibility of top-flight sportsmen, especially in these days of economic strife, but this is a betting column and not a soap box and it is my job to try to point you in the direction of a winner.

I wish both sides could lose, for different reasons, but England are somehow unbeaten in this tournament and their attritional rugby will probably suffice against a side with lots of flair but currently lacking heart.

That said, I won’t be rushing to take the 8-13 on offer as I will be keeping my powder dry in order to back either Wales or Ireland against them in the semi-finals should England get through.

Ireland are favourites at 5-6 to beat Wales (11-8), but it seems like the toss of a coin to me, a remark which also applies to the clash of Southern Hemisphere giants Australia (evens) and South Africa (6-5).

New Zealand are reeling from the loss through injury of talisman Dan Carter, but are 1-50 to get past Argentina (22-1).

Looking further ahead, there is an interesting market for the two finalists.

New Zealand are 4-9 to get there, but the Carter loss makes that outcome less secure despite the strength of the rest of the team.

An All-Blacks v England final is rated the favourite at 100-30, but I strongly fancy Ireland or Wales to go through at the chief expense of an England side devoid of flair.

They can be backed at 3-1 and 9-2 respectively.