PARIS - New Zealand are British bookmakers' favourites to become the first team to win the Rugby World Cup four times by beating South Africa later Saturday in a tournament that for at least one of them has seen "the largest stakes ever placed."
William Woodhams, CEO of the world's oldest bookmakers Fitzdares, told AFP that although his firm would lose money if the All Blacks win at the Stade de France it will be nothing compared to the losses if the Springboks prevail.
They stand to lose close to one million pounds ($1.2-million) due to the money placed on South Africa prior to the kickoff of the sport's quadrennial showpiece in France in September.
Northern hemisphere duo France and Ireland had been heavily backed but fell by the wayside losing to South Africa and New Zealand respectively in the quarter-finals.
The Springboks then edged England -- who were friendless in the betting market -- 16-15 in the semi-finals to set up a duel with fellow three-time winners New Zealand.
"There was not a penny bet on England!" said Woodhams.
"Our whole office has been cheering on France, can you believe it, and then a surprise to us all England as the liability of South Africa winning the tournament is not far from seven figures.
"We lose money if New Zealand win but nothing compared to a South Africa win.
"We will be crossing every finger that they lose.
"Watching England lose was heart-breaking in every sense of the term."
Woodhams added that aside from a rare upset "it was terrible (for us) in the group stages with pretty consistent results."
He blamed the "terrible draw" done in 2020 which left one half of it packed with leading teams.
"Hopefully we will see a better organised tournament next time," he said.