This Saturday sees the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup taking place at the Stade de France in Paris. The best two historical rugby-playing nations in the world will be taking part in what promises to be a blockbuster of an occasion. New Zealand (-134) starts as the marginal favorites, but South Africa (+104) are the defending champions. And as we’ve seen in their wins over France and England, the Boks aren’t giving up the trophy without a fight. In our latest rugby betting picks, we tell you if the Springboks have one more big performance in them or whether it will be redemption for a New Zealand side written off as no-hopers just 12 months ago.
- What; 2023 Rugby World Cup Final
- Where; Stade de France, Paris, France
- Who; New Zealand vs. South Africa
- When; Saturday, October 28th
- Time; 3 pm ET
- Defending Champions; South Africa
A total of 20 nations started the competition, and now we are down to just two, and it’s two of the best. Between them, New Zealand and South Africa have won six Rugby World Cups. Whoever wins on Saturday will have a record four wins and can rightly claim to be the best rugby-playing nation in the world. But it hasn’t been an easy path to the final for either side.
The story so far
The Australians went out in the group stages, and New Zealand and South Africa both lost to Northern Hemisphere teams in their respective groups. France is hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As such, this was supposed to be the year that a nation from the Northern Hemisphere (other than England) won the competition and ended the domination of the Southern Hemisphere.
France entered the competition as the +300 joint-favorites. Fabien Galthié’s team looked as strong as anybody on paper, and the home advantage was crucial. The French defeated the mighty All Blacks on the opening night of the competition. A scoreline of 27-13 didn’t do the hosts justice. They were by far the better team.
But when the competition got to the knockout stages, the French weren’t good enough to see off a resurgent South Africa in the quarter-finals. The Boks were too good on the night and defeated the French by just one point (29-28).
Incredible action from start to finish 🤩#FRAvRSA | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/xl9gmZPzgq
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 16, 2023
Also in the hunt to win the World Cup for the first time in their history was Ireland. They came into the tournament as the number-one ranked team in the world and also one of the betting favorites (+450).
The Irish defeated South Africa in the group stages, a win that saw them elevated to favorites to win the trophy. They were expected to go all the way, but they were undone by a determined New Zealand side (28-24) in the last eight. And yet again exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
An instant classic.#RWC2023 | #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/18se51Z0FC
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2023
Somehow, the cream has risen to the top yet again, and somehow, New Zealand and South Africa are in the final. And the Northern Hemisphere will have to wait at least another four years to try and retake the trophy from the south.
Latest 2023 Rugby World Cup outright winner betting
New Zealand is the favorite in the latest 2023 Rugby World Cup betting odds. Ian Foster’s team are -134 to win in 80 minutes, with South Africa at +104 to retain the trophy they won in 2019.
On the handicap spread, South Africa (-115) is getting a 2-point start. New Zealand is -115 to win and cover the spread. The total points is 41.5, with over and under both at -115.
More odds from the best online rugby betting sites are available on our odds table.
| New Zealand vs. South Africa |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | -134 | -134 | -134 |
| South Africa | +104 | +104 | +104 |
| New Zealand (-2) | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| South Africa (+2) | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Over 41.5 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Under 41.5 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
Our Rugby World Cup Final Betting Picks
Let’s start by working backward here. New Zealand had a walk in the park in their semi-final on Friday night. They defeated Argentina 44-6 without barely breaking a sweat in what was one of their easiest matches of the competition.
The All Blacks real contest was the previous week in the last eight against Ireland. In that match, the three-time winners held out for the win under immense pressure, as the then world number one team threw everything, including the kitchen sink at New Zealand.
As for the Boks, they have had to dig even deeper than the All Blacks. In their semi-final against England, they only led for the last two and half minutes of the match, clinching a 16-15 win with a nerveless late penalty from Handre Pollard. This battling win came just one week after they were taken to the wire by France in the quarter-final.
It is clear to anybody that South Africa has had the hardest run to get to the final. The Boks have had to go to the well twice, while the All Blacks just once. And that was two weeks ago.
Can South Africa do it for a third time? It is one hell of a big ask. If any team can do it, South Africa can. But we think this will be one match too far, and we feel New Zealand will win and cover the spread in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
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