England vs South Africa RWC final odds and betting tips

England
Match odds: -217.39 at Bovada
Betting line: -5.5 at -111.11
Record: 5-0

South Africa
Match odds: +175 at Bovada
Betting line: +5.5 at -111.11
Record: 5-1

There is a hint of deja vu about Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa.

These two teams met in the 2007 decider in Paris, where the Springboks claimed their second RWC title with a tryless 15-6 victory at the Stade de France.

South Africa were heavy favourites for that encounter, but it is the other way round for this weekend’s matchup in Yokohama.

SEE ALSO: RUGBY WORLD CUP BETTING GUIDE

England are undefeated at RWC 2019 and have taken out two of the big dogs in the knockout rounds, thumping Australia in the quarter-finals and then humbling New Zealand in the semis.

The Springboks cruised past Japan to reach the last four, but their 19-16 win over Wales went down to the wire.

Both packs are loaded with big bodies, so it is shaping up as a classic battle of the forwards.

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England RWC team news

Coach Eddie Jones has stuck with the same starting XV that beat the All Blacks, with George Ford at fly-half and Owen Farrell at inside centre. Scrum-half Ben Spencer replaces the injured Willi Heinz on the bench in the only change to England’s 23-man matchday squad.

England squad: Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (c), Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Billy Vunipola, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola. (Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Mark Wilson, Ben Spencer, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph.)

South Africa RWC team news

Star winger Cheslin Kolbe returns to the starting side after missing South Africa’s semi-final win with an ankle injury. That sees S’Busiso Nkosi drop out of the 23 altogether, with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus naming an otherwise unchanged squad.

South Africa squad: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira. (Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn.)

England RWC results

England 35-3 Tonga
England 45-7 United States
England 39-10 Argentina
England 40-16 Australia
England 19-7 New Zealand

South Africa RWC results

New Zealand 23-12 South Africa
South Africa 57-3 Namibia
South Africa 49-3 Italy
South Africa 66-7 Canada
South Africa 26-3 Japan
South Africa 19-16 Wales

England vs South Africa RWC betting predictions

Jonny May anytime tryscorer – +220 at Bovada
It was Manu Tuilagi who crossed twice in the win over New Zealand, but May remains the standout candidate in the RWC 2019 final tryscorer betting markets. The Wallabies couldn’t stop him in the quarters and the Springboks will have to work their socks off to keep him quiet.

Either side to score a drop goal – +214 at Bovada
Seven of the eight Rugby World Cup finals to date have produced at least one drop goal. Both of these teams have previously clinched the title with extra-time kicks – Joel Stransky for South Africa in 1995, Jonny Wilkinson for England in 2003. Given the strike rate, these odds look like a steal.

England to win by 1-12 points – +140 at Bovada
Bet against England at your peril. They dominated Australia and outmuscled New Zealand, so a win over South Africa would complete an impressive hat-trick of knockout scalps. The ‘bomb squad’ will keep the Springboks in the game, but the Brits are on a roll and should get the job done.