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France - Home Soil Advantage?
Friday 07 September 2007 at 09:52
 As the Rugby World Cup kicks off today many see New Zealand as the strongest team in the tournament and with odds of 3/5 they are well backed.
However, with odds of 13/2 France may be the better prospect - especially when the home advantage is taken into consideration.
In the five previous World Cups the host nation has lifted the trophy three times - and in 2003 hosts Australia were only just beaten by the famous right foot kick of England's Jonny Wilkinson.
Indeed, home support should not be underestimated, New Zealand are 12,000 miles from home and France will be alive with talk of Les Coques. Who could forget the wave of fanatical support the French football team received which drove them on to win the World Cup in France in 1998?
In fact, apart from Wales in 1999, the hosts have always reached the final - with the chances of France continuing the tradition at 9/4 with Paddypower. A bet of France and favourites New Zealand both making the final is available at 11/4 with Stan James.
If France manage to overpower Argentina in their opening game and go all the way the big players will have to perform and try scorers ply their trade with conviction.
Christophe Dominici is currently favourite to score most tries for France in the tournament at 4/1 with Skybet, however if the mercurial Clement Poitrenaud produces some consistency he could be worth a punt on 10/1.
A bet on the French forward taking the most tries could be tempting and add interest to matches if the fierce Sebastian Chabal is backed - known affectionately in France as the Caveman or l'Homme des Cavernes - with the odds on him being the country's top try scorer currently 5/1 with Paddypower.
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