How the Rugby World Cup is now predicted to play out…

How the Rugby World Cup is now predicted to play out as odds on Wales slashed

The Wallabies weren't the only ones rattled by Wales' stunning Rugby World Cup win over them in Tokyo on Sunday.

Now the bookies have taken a Samurai sword to the odds of seeing Warren Gatland's side follow up their 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam with a first ever Webb Ellis Cup success.

Pre-tournament odds for Wales bettering their 1987 and 2011 semi-final exits, and lifting the silverware, saw the Pool D leaders priced at 12/1 in a number of bookmakers and even down as far as 14/1 in others.

One bookie reported their 12/1 odds on Wales winning the World Cup was the second most popular punt of the tournament behind South Africa, with 17% of all bets going on Gatland's men.

But having seen Wales put one foot in the World Cup quarter-finals and announced themselves as major title contenders after beating Australia 29-25 at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday, their odds have tumbled.

It means Wales are now in the box seat to top Pool D, giving them a likely quarter-final clash with France and a semi-final date with South Africa, if they can overcome Les Bleus.

Wales team receive a warm welcome from the city of Ōtsu

A defeat to Australia would have meant a likely doomsday scenario of meeting England in the last eight with the All Blacks awaiting the winner in the semis.

The more appealing route for the Pool D winners - which now looks likes Wales - means punters now fancying a flutter on the men in red will get odds of 9/1 to be outright winner.

It means they now climb above Ireland as fourth favourites after Joe Schmidt's side were stunned by hosts Japan on the weekend.

And with the former world number ones having to play either New Zealand or the Springboks in the quarter-finals, the World Cup under-achievers have drifted out to 11/1 having been eights and nines pre-tournament.

New Zealand remain the scalding favourites to win a third successive World Cup after their 23-13 opening round win over much-fancied South Africa.

The Springboks and England are joint second favourites.

So, according to the bookies the likely World Cup semi-finals will see New Zealand v England and South Africa v Wales, with the two southern hemisphere sides seen as the most likely finalists to emerge and the All Blacks tipped to win a third consecutive title

Here are the full odds supplied by the pools.com

Outright winners

New Zealand 6/5

South Africa 4/1

England 4/1

Wales 9/1

Ireland 11/1

Australia 16/1

France 25/1

Japan 66/1

Scotland 100/1

Argentina 100/1