New Zealand drift for Rugby World Cup after getting Ireland in last eight

New Zealand have been eased to 11-8 from 11-10 to win a third successive Rugby World Cup after victory for hosts Japan over Scotland on Sunday confirmed Ireland as the All Blacks’ quarter-final opponents.

Japan’s 28-21 success in Yokohama meant they topped Pool A after winning all four of their group encounters, with the Irish finishing in second place.

Ireland’s last-eight showdown with the world champions will take place in Tokyo on Saturday with Joe Schmidt’s side rated 4-1 shots to defeat the All Blacks for the third time since November 2016. New Zealand are 2-9 to progress the semi-finals.

Whoever wins that quarter-final will meet the winners of England and Australia, who face off in Oita earlier on Saturday morning.

England, 4-1 third favourites to become world champions for a second time, are 4-11 to see off the Wallabies and make it past the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007, when they were beaten in the final by South Africa.

Japan’s reward for topping their section is a quarter-final with the Springboks, who have been clipped to as short as 3-1 to win the tournament.

However, South Africa know only too well the dangers posed by the hosts after they were humiliated by the Brave Blossoms in Brighton four years ago. The Boks were 43-point favourites that day, only to lose 34-32.

The handicap line is much more modest this time around with South Africa asked to give up 15 points to Japan in Tokyo on Sunday.
Wales face France in the only all-northern hemisphere quarter-final on the same day.

Wales, who recorded a perfect four wins out of four in the pool stage, are the 4-9 favourites to reach the semi-finals with France a best-priced 11-5. A general seven-point handicap line has been set.

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