Both teams have gone a perfect 5-0 so far in the Olympic rugby tournament so far. New Zealand defeated Canada 21-10 in the quarterfinals, before scoring a 29-7 blowout over Great Britain to advance to the gold medal game.

Fiji started the knockout rounds with a 19-0 blanking of Australia. Argentina then gave the Fijians a test in the semifinals, taking a 14-12 lead at halftime. But Fiji stormed back in the second half to ultimately win 26-14, keeping its hopes of back-to-back Olympic gold medals alive.

FT: Fiji 🇫�?26-14 🇦�?Argentina. Fiji will play New Zeland 🇳🇿in the GOLD MEDAL🥇match at 9pm tonight! 🇫🇯🙏🏾 #Rugby #Olympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/vZKwItAigX

— Fiji 7s Team (@Fiji7sTeam) July 28, 2021

To do so, however, Fiji will have to knock off a strong rival in the final. FanDuel Sportsbook rates Fiji as the -134 pick to beat New Zealand (+110) in the gold medal game. The Fijians also stand as a 1.5-point favorite in spread betting.

Fiji and New Zealand met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic rugby tournament. Fiji won that matchup 12-7, denying New Zealand of a medal in Rio. Now, New Zealand is guaranteed to win its first medal in men’s Olympic rugby. Meanwhile, Fiji will win the second medal �?in any sport �?in its Olympic history, and could make it back-to-back golds.

Meanwhile, Great Britain will take on Argentina in the bronze medal game. Great Britain beat Argentina 5-0 in extra time in the 2016 Olympic quarterfinals, and would go on to win silver that year. The British team enters as a -160 favorite over Argentina (+130) and is a 1.5-point favorite on the spread.

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Australia upset New Zealand 24-17 to win gold in 2016, and those two could easily find themselves in another gold medal showdown at the Tokyo Olympics.

New Zealand looks to avenge 2016 disappointment

New Zealand has been the dominant force in women’s rugby sevens. The country won the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series six times in its eight years of existence, with Australia picking up the two other titles. Oddsmakers see New Zealand as the clear choice to win gold. FanDuel Sportsbook rates New Zealand as the -330 pick to top the podium, far ahead of any of its rivals.

The defending gold medalists come in as the +750 second choice. Australia finished second in the 2019-20 Sevens Series, and has historically been the main obstacle to New Zealand’s dominance. But a couple of North American sides plan to have a say in determining who walks away from Tokyo with medals around their necks.

Canada (+1000) comes in as the third choice at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Canadians have been the third-most successful team in women’s rugby sevens, and finished third in each of the last two Sevens Series seasons. Canada also won the bronze medals at the 2016 Olympics, beating Great Britain 33-10 after falling 17-5 to Australia in the semifinals.

Canada, US rising as women’s rugby sevens threats

The Canadian women’s rugby sevens team has gone through a volatile period, as 37 athletes submitted a complaint against former head coach John Tait in January. Now, Canada wants to focus on the Olympics under new coach Mick Byrne.

“Something like that is never going to be easy,�?Canadian captain Ghislaine Landry told the CBC. “And the way we’ve come through it and the conversations that we’ve had, the things that we’ve stood up for, just the overwhelming feeling is that I’m very proud of us and each individual.�?/p>

The United States (+1400) could also contend for a medal in women’s rugby sevens this year. Team USA has finished as high as second in the Sevens Series, even winning a tournament during the 2019-20 series, but has yet to enjoy any sustained international success. The Americans finished fifth at the 2016 Olympics, losing to New Zealand 5-0 in the quarterfinals.

“It’s the pinnacle event for us,�?American co-captain Kris Thomas told The New York Times. “We play internationally quite often in rugby sevens. But this is the big dance that we’ve been preparing for.�?/p>

A total of 12 teams will compete in women’s rugby sevens at the Tokyo Olympics. Both France (+1600) and Great Britain (+2100) should also contend for medals, but the talent level drops off significantly after the top six. FanDuel rates Kenya, Japan, China, Russia, Fiji, and Brazil all as +10000 long shots to win gold. Of those teams, the Russians may have the best medal hopes, having finished in the top six in the Sevens Series on five different occasions. Fiji, however, hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success as it has in men’s rugby sevens.

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FanDuel Sportsbook rates Fiji as a +230 favorite to win the gold in men’s rugby sevens, though there are plenty of nations who will be looking to unseat the defending champions this year.

Japan nearly upsets Fiji in rugby sevens opener

Fiji opened its campaign on Monday morning local time, and actually found itself in trouble early against upset-minded Japan (+10000). After an early try for Fiji in the first minute, Japan came back to take a 14-12 lead heading into halftime.

Early in the second half, Japan then pushed that lead to 19-12. But, late in the match, Fiji scored twice to pull out an important 24-19 win to open the tournament.

Giving it everything �?/p>

Fiji outlast a spirited Japan 24-19. #Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/f0nZ8YSxfT

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 26, 2021

For those familiar with the 15-player rugby union, rugby sevens offers up an entirely different style of play. With only seven players per side, the action is wide open, with speed and technique at a premium. Teams play seven-minute halves, meaning games are over almost as soon as they start.

Fiji comes in as a deserving favorite. Not only does the country own the only Olympic gold medal in men’s rugby sevens, but it’s won three of the past six World Rugby Sevens Series titles.

New Zealand (+250) won the most recent series and comes into Tokyo as the second choice to win gold. New Zealand failed to medal in 2016, falling to Fiji 12-7 in the quarterfinals. Even so, the All Blacks remain a global power in rugby, and could easily take the top spot in this year’s tournament.

South Africa (+340) also enters the event as one of the top contenders and a near co-favorite with Fiji and New Zealand. The South Africans won bronze in Rio and won the World Rugby Sevens Series in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

United States among second-tier medal contenders

The odds for gold lengthen significantly after those top three contenders, but there are teams with enough talent to potentially reach the medal stand. The United States (+750) has increasingly asserted itself as a legitimate threat in international rugby sevens, finishing as high as second in the 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Australia (+900) reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic tournament, though it hasn’t finished in the top three of the World Rugby Sevens Series since 2010. Great Britain (+1400) surprisingly took the silver medals in Rio after tight knockout victories over Argentina and South Africa, and will try to put together a similar run in Tokyo.

Oddsmakers give the rest of the 12-team field little hope of medaling in men’s rugby sevens. Argentina (+4400) made the knockout rounds in 2016, but has little other international success. Ireland (+6000), Kenya (+6500), South Korea (+10000), and Canada (+10000) round out the fields, along with Japan.

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Both leagues are playing a full schedule of matches this weekend, though even they acknowledge that there’s the looming possibility that COVID-19 could stop them in their tracks at any time.

AFL Adds Flexibility to Schedule

The AFL play began on Thursday after club executives met with medical officials and government representatives to talk about whether the league should go forward. While a government ban on gatherings of 100 or more people guaranteed that supporters wouldn’t be at games, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was up to the AFL whether or not it wanted to proceed with its season.

AFL Odds (Round 1)

• Essendon (-209) vs. Fremantle (+170)
• Adelaide (-140) vs. Sydney (+115)
• GWS (-178) vs. Geelong (+150)
• Gold Coast (+198) vs. Port Adelaide (-240)
• North Melbourne (+102) vs. St. Kilda (-120)
• Hawthorn (+106) vs. Brisbane (-124)
• West Coast (-270) vs. Melbourne (+220)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

And so, the first weekend of matches is underway. The AFL has already shortened its schedule from 22 matches to a pure 17-game round-robin in an effort to provide flexibility if, and when, the league needs to halt play.

“We don’t know how many games we will get into this 153-game journey before we have to pause,�?AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan told the BBC. “We embark on this journey with clear instruction from the government that all industry and all parts of society need to keep moving forward, and we simply cannot stand still.�?/p>

Plans are already in place for dealing with any positive coronavirus tests, with McLachlan saying the league would “stand down for a minimum of 30 days�?if a player tested positive.

“I know we have got players in quarantine,�?McLachlan told 3AW radio on Friday. “I know there are no players or officials from tonight’s game that are pending tests.�?/p>

NRL Moves Into Second Week of Play

The NRL is in the second week of its season, and is now playing its matches in empty arenas as well. The NRL is the only rugby competition still active in Australia, as the league and state governing bodies have postponed all other rugby league matches until at least May.

“Community rugby league doesn’t have the ability to enforce the same social distancing procedures as the elite game,�?NRL executive Luke Ellis said in a statement. “That’s why, in partnership with our state bodies, we have chosen to err on the side of caution.�?/p>

The NRL is also taking its own unique steps to combat the coronavirus. TMZ reported that each match employs a special washer whose job it is to keep the rugby ball as clean as possible.

NRL Odds (Round 2)

• New Zealand Warriors (+360) vs. Canberra Raiders (-440)
• Sydney Roosters (-178) vs. Manly Sea Eagles (+162)
• Cronulla Sharks (+172) vs. Melbourne Storm (-190)
• Wests Tigers (-108) vs. Newcastle Knights (-104)
• Gold Coast Titans (+215) vs. Parramatta Eels (-245)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

The NRL and AFL offer a rare opportunity for American sportsbooks to provide action to bettors. While potential betting on chess or other sports will require regulatory approval, many sportsbooks had already cleared the Australian leagues, with major operators like DraftKings and FanDuel offering a menu of game odds from the NRL, AFL, and A-League (Australia’s top soccer league).

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The final, which will take place in Yokohama, is a rematch of the 2007 title game, which South Africa won 15-6.

England Healthy, Ready to Earn Title

This time around, a win by South Africa would be considered something of an upset. FanDuel Sportsbook has made England a -210 favorite to lift the trophy, with South Africa listed at +175. But those odds acknowledge that the match is anything but a sure thing for the English, something head coach Eddie Jones wants to make sure his side understands heading into the weekend.

“We want to play with no fear on Saturday, just get out there and play the game,�?Jones told reporters. “We know South Africa aren’t going to give us the game, they are going to come hard. We’ve got to meet their physicality, but we are looking forward to that and being able to impose our game on them.

England will be boosted by the fact it can run out the same lineup as they did in their 19-7 semifinal victory over New Zealand, with tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler good to go after suffering a calf injury in that match.

Rugby World Cup Title Meaningful for South Africa

South Africa knows it’s heading into the Rugby World Cup final with every opportunity to win the match, even if the odds are slightly tilted against them. According to head coach Rassie Erasmus, his team won’t back down an inch on Saturday, and will leave everything on the field in its pursuit of a world title.

“Getting to this stage is not enough for this team,�?Erasmus told reporters. “We may not be the favorites, but the players will leave nothing in the tank. At the end of the day, all you can ask is that they leave nothing on the field. If you are beaten by the better team, that’s life.�?/p>

Erasmus has also said that winning the Rugby World Cup would be a huge moment for South Africa as a nation. The country has previously seen rugby serve as a uniting force, such as when they won their first title at home in 1995, a victory that spawned the iconic image of president Nelson Mandela awarding the cup to team captain Francois Pienaar.

“It will mean a lot, but it can’t mean something for a week,�?Erasmus told CNN. “It must mean something and we must then capitalize on that, and use it and fix South Africa with it.�?/p>

England is looking for redemption after failing to get out of pool play in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, a tournament it hosted. South Africa finished third in 2015, defeating Argentina 24-13 in the consolation match.

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England and Wales will need big performances to break through and reach the final, as both the All Blacks and South Africa have been installed as significant favorites in the semis.

England Coach Makes Spying Accusation

The England vs. New Zealand match has taken on a particularly contentious tone. England coach Eddie Jones claimed that his team was being spied on in their pregame preparations, though he didn’t go as far as saying that it was the two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions who were behind it.

“There was definitely someone in the apartment block filming but it might have been a Japanese fan,�?Jones told the media. “I don’t care, mate. We have got someone there [at New Zealand’s practices] now. Everyone knows what everyone does so there are no surprises in world rugby anymore.�?/p>

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen laughed off those accusations, and also denied that the pressure was on his squad as they attempted to win a third straight title and a fourth overall championship, both of which would extend their Rugby World Cup records. Instead, he said that England might be feeling the pressure given its lackluster performance in the 2015 tournament.

“We know we’re under pressure. We don’t need Eddie to tell us that,�?Hansen said. “He needs to work out what England is going to do with the pressure they’re under. They’ll have memories about a tournament four years ago that didn’t go that good so they’ll be under immense pressure themselves.�?/p>

England and New Zealand are both rugby powerhouses, but the All Blacks are in outstanding form, so while a close match is expected, they are the consensus favorites. At FanDuel Sportsbook, New Zealand is listed at -270, while England can be backed as a +245 underdog.

Wales Looks for Defining World Cup Moment

Similar odds are available in the other semifinal, where South Africa (-310) is the clear favorite over Wales (+270). While all of the other semifinalists made it through the quarterfinals easily, Wales struggled to a 20-19 win over France to book their place in the final four.

The South Africans are also among the most successful Rugby World Cup sides in history, having won the competition in 1995 and 2007, while Wales �?despite currently being ranked third in the world �?is a relative outsider, having never finished higher than third in the tournament’s history.

Rugby World Cup Title Odds

• New Zealand (-135)
• South Africa (+300)
• England (+430)
• Wales (+850)

That means that the Welsh team could make history by reaching the final, something coach Warren Gatland wants his side to remember.

“We have got a pretty clean bill of health and you get these opportunities once in a lifetime potentially,�?Gatland told reporters. “The motivation for the staff who are leaving and players who will have their last opportunity is to leave nothing on the table and make the most of the chance, having no regrets.�?/p>

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While cancellations and upsets shuffled the group stage standings slightly, there have been no major surprises in the Rugby World Cup so far. One result did, however, provide some unexpected excitement for home fans.

Japan Tops Pool Ahead of Ireland, Scotland

Japan had never before made the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, and weren’t expected to make much noise this year either. While they came into the tournament ranked No. 10 in the world, bookmakers were offering 300/1 odds on the hosts to win the competition. They were seen by most as, perhaps, the third-best team in a group that also featured No. 1 ranked Ireland and Scotland.

But Japan didn’t just qualify for the quarterfinals �?a result that would have made them the first Tier 2 team to make it that far since 1997. Instead, they topped Pool A, scoring wins over both Scotland and Ireland on their way to a perfect 4-0 record, and 19 points.

Japan finished off their run with a 28-21 win over Scotland on Sunday, allowing the Brave Blossoms to reach the quarterfinals, where they’ll take on South Africa in Tokyo next Sunday. That result also sent Scotland packing with a third-place finish in the group.

“Scotland took it to us from the start and, in some parts, outplayed us,�?Japan coach Jamie Joseph told reporters. “But the tenacity of our team in crucial parts of the test paid dividends. Our persistence, confidence, and trust in our game plan saw us through.�?/p>

Scotland had previously complained about the decision to potentially cancel the match against Japan due to Typhoon Hagibis, as that would have eliminated them without giving the team a chance to potentially earn their way into the quarterfinals.

In the end, that game was played, and Japan earned their way into the knockout stages. Other matches were cancelled though, including a clash between Pool C leaders England and France, and a Pool B match between Namibia and Canada. Also in Pool B, Italy was denied a chance to fight for a playoff spot when their match against New Zealand was canceled �?though the All Blacks were a substantial favorite in the game.

New Zealand Remains Rugby World Cup Favorite

With all the other top seeds going through, the quarterfinals �?scheduled for Saturday and Sunday �?will feature classic matchups between traditional powers.

Tournament favorite New Zealand will take on world No. 1 Ireland in an intriguing quarterfinal test. At FanDuel Sportsbook, New Zealand is a -460 favorite to win the game and advance to the semifinals. Japan (+450) will try to keep its exciting run alive against a tough South Africa (-600) side that is expected to advance past the hosts.

Also in the quarterfinals, England (-310) is a solid favorite vs. Australia (+260), while Wales (-225) and France (+210) are expected to have the most competitive match of the round.

Rugby World Cup Odds to Win Outright

• New Zealand (+125)
• South Africa (+340)
• England (+430)
• Wales (+850)
• Ireland (+1800)
• Australia (+2600)
• France (+2600)
• Japan (+4400)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Overall, New Zealand remains a +125 favorite to win the Rugby World Cup, in what would be the nation’s third consecutive victory. South Africa (+340) and England (+430) are given the best chances of upsetting the All Blacks, while Japan has seen their odds shorten to +4400, though that still makes them the longest of shots to win the tournament.

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According to European bookmakers, New Zealand is the big favorite to win their third straight Rugby World Cup after victories in 2011 and 2015. New Zealand defeated Australia in the previous World Cup final.

Ireland arrives in Japan with the #1 ranking, but the Irish are only +650 odds to win the Rugby World Cup.

RUGBY WORLD CUP ODDS:
New Zealand (2) +125
South Africa (4) +400
England (3) +450
Ireland (1) +650
Wales (5) +800
Australia (6) +1400
France (8) +3300
Scotland (7) +4000
Japan (10) +30,000

In eight World Cups the Kiwis won four titles including the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

Australia won the Rugby World Cup twice between 1991 and 1999. South Africa also won the Rugby World Cup twice with their first victory in 1995 and their last in 2007. England has won the World Cup once, which occurred in 2003 during an epic battle against Australia.

With New Zealand seeking a three peat, both South Africa and England are similar odds. South Africa, led by Faf de Klerk, is the second favorite on the board at 4/1 odds to win the Rugby World Cup.

Host Japan

The ninth Rugby World Cup includes 20 nations and features 48 matches spread out in Japan over six weeks of action with the finale on November 2. Japan will be hosting their first Rugby World Cup and they are 300/1 longshot odds to win.

Four groups of five teams will play each other in group play. The winner and runner-up in each group advanced to the quarterfinals, which begin on October 19.

Japan has a tough draw playing in Group A featuring Ireland, Scotland, Samoa, and Russia. The Rugby World Cup officially kicks off Friday with Japan playing Russia at Tokyo Stadium.

All Irish eyes will be keen on Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray.Ireland comes in with the top ranking, yet they are only +650 to win.

Three-Peat?

The World Cup is New Zealand’s to lose. The Kiwis will square off against South Africa in group action. Group B includes New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, and Namibia.

Kieran Read is the captain of the All Blacks, but Beauden Barrett is the one everyone wants to see. He’s been the named the best rugby player on the planet twice.

South Africa boasts the best hooker in the world with Malcolm Marx. Siya Kolisi made history as the first black captain of the South African squad.

England and France Pool of Death

England is in Group C with Team USA, France, Argentina, and Tonga. The Brits are 9/2 odds to win the Cup despite getting thrust onto the Pool of Death with France. It’s been 16 years since England celebrated their lone World Cup victory. There’s a lot of pressure on captain Owen Farrell’s shoulders to bring home a second title back to England.

France, led by Antoine Dupont, seems like the biggest threat to the Brits. Romain Ntamack is France’s youngest player and the future of the team.

Team USA comes in ranked #13. USA faces an uphill battle against top-tier teams England and France. The Yanks have only won three matches in seven World Cup appearances. Team USA includes former (American) footballer Joe Taufete’e, who intended on playing in the NFL as a defensive end before a blown ACL cut short his career.

England and New Zealand fought each other in the World Cricket Final. The Brits love another shot at the All Blacks. Ashbourne, England is the home of medieval rugby with the annual Royal Shrovetide match. It feels like the Middle Ages since England last won a title.

Sleeper Wales?

Group D action features Australia, Wales, Fiji, Georgia, and Uruguay. Wales comes in at 8/1 odds to win the World Cup. They’ve never made a final and could only muster up a third place in 1987 as their highest finish. Alun Wyn Jones will become a Welsh legend in perpetuity if he can rally Wales to a victory. Jones is coming into the World Cup as the MVP of the 2019 Six Nations Tournament.

Meanwhile the banged-up Aussies are only 14/1 odds to win the Rugby World Cup despite a recent upset victory over the All Blacks. The Aussies are captained by Michael Hooper, but it’s vice-captain Samu Kerevi who’s the playmaker.

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