Rugby League World Cup predictions & betting tips: French fancied to challenge

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Rugby League World Cup matches.

Where to watch

New Zealand v Jamaica
BBC Three & iPlayer, 7.30pm Saturday

England v France
BBC Two & iPlayer, 5pm Saturday

Fiji v Italy
BBC iPlayer, 2.30pm Saturday

Best bets

France +36
2pts 21-20 BoyleSports

Jamaica +74
1pt 10-11 general

J Manu first tryscorer
1pt each-way 11-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Saturday's betting preview

Backing the side with a start on the handicap has been the way to go at the World Cup and a couple more plucky underdogs deserve support in Saturday's group matches.

Seven of the eight jollies in round one failed to cover the mark and France could be the latest side to make the most of a generous start.

Les Bleus take on England at the University of Bolton Stadium and the winners will put themselves in a great position to finish top of Group A. Both sides won their opening fixtures with England taking the section by the scruff of the neck thanks to a stunning 60-6 victory over Samoa.

The Samoans were favourites to win that match and to top the group but Shaun Wane’s side are now in pole position to progress as top dogs.

England’s hardest looking game is out of the way but they may not have things all their own way against a fired-up French side consisting mainly of Betfred Super League stars from Catalans Dragons.

It was 30-10 to England the last time these two met 12 months ago and the Three Lions have won the pair’s last 20 meetings.

Not since February 1981 have France got the better of the old enemy from across the Channel and England have also won all four of their head-to-heads at a World Cup.

So odds of 1-50 about a home win look justified but a whopping 38-point start for Les Bleus is well worth taking as England have beaten France by more than that margin in just three of their last ten meetings.

Wane has chosen to shuffle his side for this encounter, bringing in all seven players who weren’t involved last week, so that means Tommy Makinson, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees and Michael McIlorum are some of those who miss out and that may lead to a disjointed performance from England.

France have retained most of the team who eased past Greece last week so they can remain competitive in Bolton, while Jamaica are worth backing with a hefty 74-point start against New Zealand.

Jamaica were well beaten 48-2 by Ireland in their opener, and New Zealand eased past Lebanon 34-12.

So a Kiwis victory can be expected but their largest winning margin in their last nine outings was 68 points so Jamaica are fancied to stay within that line.

New Zealand are also set to ring the changes so they may take time to get up to speed and they are also likely to ease up in the latter stages of the game.

One player who hit the ground running for the Kiwis last week was Joseph Manu who scored a try and picked up an assist.

He was a threat all game long against the Cedars and looks a touch of value to open the scoring at the MKM Stadium in Hull.

Fiji are 1-7 favourites to secure their first win of the competition against Italy but the match is a tricky one to call and looks best left alone for betting purposes.

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