The Rugby World Cup kicks off in a few hours, and everyone and their dog has made their predictions for who will win the tournament, and who the final four teams will be. We've compiled all of the predictions from all the sources, to see who is the most heavily fancied, and the range of teams that are in contention.
With no surprise to anyone, New Zealand were picked as the team to win by most people with 31 of 54 people picking the world no. 1 team. There were also picks for hosts England, Australia, South Africa, and two balls.ie punters decided on Ireland, as well as one New Zealand Herald writer.
France and Wales were included by some pundits in the semi-final shake up, and there were a few brave souls who didn't have New Zealand in the final four. In fact, Matt Dawson is picking Ireland to beat New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
| Winners | Second Place | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balls.ie | ||||
| Conor O'Leary | New Zealand | Australia | Ireland | England |
| Gavan Casey | England | France | Ireland | South Africa |
| Mark Farrelly | South Africa | England | Ireland | New Zealand |
| Ricky Mooney | Ireland | South Africa | England | New Zealand |
| Sinead Farrell | Ireland | New Zealand | South Africa | England |
| Brian Reynolds | England | South Africa | ||
| Balls 2014 Predictions | New Zealand | Ireland | Australia | England |
| Doug Howlett | New Zealand | Ireland | England | South Africa |
| Peter Stringer | New Zealand/South Africa | Australia/Ireland | ||
| MIT | New Zealand | England | Ireland | South Africa |
| Irish Times | ||||
| Gerry Thornley | New Zealand | Wales | Ireland | |
| Liam Toland | New Zealand | Ireland | ||
| Lynne Cantwell | New Zealand | Ireland | ||
| Johnny Watterson | Australia | New Zealand | Ireland | |
| Matt Williams | New Zealand | Ireland | South Africa | England |
| John O'Sullivan | New Zealand | Ireland | ||
| Victor Costello | New Zealand | England | Ireland | |
| Sinead Kissane | New Zealand | Ireland | ||
| Ken Early | New Zealand | South Africa | ||
| Gavin Cummiskey | South Africa | England | Ireland | New Zealand |
| Keith Wood | Australia | |||
| Lawrence Dallaglio | South Africa | |||
| Matt Dawson | England | Australia | France | Ireland |
| Independent UK | ||||
| Chris Hewett | Australia | France | ||
| Ian Herbert | Australia | |||
| Hugh Godwin | New Zealand | |||
| Kevin Garside | New Zealand | |||
| Matt Majende | New Zealand | |||
| Tom Peck | New Zealand | |||
| Jack de Menerzes | Australia | |||
| Telegraph | ||||
| Brian Moore | New Zealand | England | Ireland | |
| Mike Ford | New Zealand | England | Ireland | |
| Zinzan Brooke | New Zealand | |||
| David Campese | New Zealand | Australia | ||
| Sir Ian McGeechan | New Zealand | England | ||
| Kenny Logan | New Zealand | Australia | England | Ireland |
| Will Greenwood | England | New Zealand | Ireland | South Africa |
| Jon Davies | New Zealand | France | ||
| Austin Healey | England | Australia | New Zealand | |
| Guardian | ||||
| Rob Kitson | New Zealand | England | ||
| Eddie Butler | France | New Zealand | England | |
| Paul Rees | England | Australia | ||
| Mike Averis | New Zealand | Ireland | England | |
| Michael Aylwin | New Zealand | England | ||
| New Zealand Herald | ||||
| Gregor Paul | New Zealand | |||
| Justin Marshall | New Zealand | South Africa | ||
| Chris Rattue | Ireland | New Zealand | ||
| Nigel Yalden | New Zealand | |||
| Ali Williams | New Zealand | |||
| Wynne Gray | England | |||
| Patrick McKendry | New Zealand |
