Rugby League
Women’s Rugby League World Cup Predictions: England to run riot in Perth
England and Wales women kick off their Rugby League World Cup campaigns in Perth on Saturday and William Hill News are anticipating a high-scoring game, with a massive points margin swinging the way of the favourites.
William Hill make England Women 1/500 favourites to win the match, which leaves very little room for doubt in the Match betting market. The bigger question is how many points they can win by, so we’ll head straight to the Handicap Betting.
England Women vs Wales Women – Saturday, 7:35am
A price of 1/500 is about as short as it gets, and it reflects the gulf in experience and depth between the sides. England have long been a leading force in the women’s international game and are expected to have too much power, pace and structure for a Wales side still building its profile at this level.
Wales’ route to an upset relies on defensive resilience and capitalising on any early England errors. At 16/1, they are offered as a long shot, while the 22/1 draw looks unlikely
Our prediction: England To Win – 1/500
Handicap Betting
With the outright price on England To Win being so short, the handicap market is where the value lies for this fixture. William Hill have set the line at 54 points, so it becomes a question as to whether England are allowed free-flowing tries, or whether Wales can weather the oncoming storm.
A margin this big is a lot to ask, even of a heavy favourite. Mismatches at a World Cup can turn into one-sided scorelines, especially once the bigger side starts to dominate field position and possession. But in the later stages of lopsided games, teams often ease off or rotate their squads, and that can cap the winning margin.
Backers of England -54 are betting on a rout, while Wales +54 supporters are backing the underdogs to avoid a total collapse. The even-money price on Wales +54 is notable. It suggests plenty of punters expect England to be dominant but not record-breaking.
The Prediction
England should win comfortably, and a margin in the region of the handicap line looks most likely. England Women -54 at 4/5 is the pick for those who expect a full-blown demolition.
Those who prefer a safer angle can lean towards Wales +54.5 at 5/6, on the view that England may take their foot off the gas late on. Either way, England being the outright winner looks a formality.
*Prices accurate a the time of writing – odds subject to change*
