Pool A record suggests back Australia for 2015 Rugby World Cup

With Australia, England and Wales all present and only two places up for grabs in the knockout rounds, logic would suggest avoid backing any of the Pool A candidates to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

However, this pool can be described as somewhat of a lucky omen based on the results of the three most recent instalments of the competition and of the trio, Australia look the team to side with at 9/1.

The 2003 World Cup was the first occasion in which five teams were included in each pool in the group stages and since this change of system, five of the six finalists have come from Pool A.

This includes both New Zealand and France in 2011 and South Africa and England in 2007.

The other interesting observation is that each of the last two winners were positioned in Pool C in the World Cup before they were crowned champions.

Australia were in Pool C in 2011 and ended up beating Wales in the Bronze final for third spot, having previously lost their semi final to the eventual winners.

Looking ahead to 2015, England are 6/1 to win the Rugby World Cup for the second time in four renewals and their home advantage must be deemed a positive. After all, New Zealand won on home soil last time, while South Africa also did so in 1995.

Wales are the other big guns in the pool and appear well on the way to rediscovering some of their sparkling form of old having won the 2013 Six Nations.

To date, Wales have never even reached a World Cup final, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that this ends in 2015 and they can be backed at 10/1 for victory.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date