RWC: Punters shifting away from All Blacks

Sam Cane runs in a try during the win over Argentina. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Confidence in the All Blacks' chances at the World Cup declined this week as punters instead looked to the likes of Australia, Ireland and England.

The TAB have been charting who punters think will win the World Cup based on the number of bets for the overall winner. The All Blacks peaked at 56 per cent soon after the World Cup markets opened in July, 2014, and were at 43 per cent last week on the eve of the tournament.

That slipped to 41 per cent this week in the wake of their hard-fought 26-16 win over Argentina. They are due to play Namibia in their second game tomorrow morning.

England have consistently been second favourites, peaking at 26 per cent last July, and currently sit at 13 per cent ahead of Ireland and Australia (both 12 per cent).

Confidence in South Africa hasn't been dented, despite their upset 34-32 defeat to Japan, and they remain on nine per cent. France (nine) and Wales (three) round out the top sides.

Interestingly, Kiwi fans who played the TAB's One Punt in a Million game (participants had to select the winners and margins of all 49 games to win $1 million) backed the All Blacks to win the World Cup to the tune of 89 per cent. That figure dropped markedly to 43 per cent when they actually put their money on it.