There are many in this country concerned at the threat Australia pose at the World Cup and that is reflected in betting trends, with more people this week betting on the Wallabies to win the tournament than any other team including the All Blacks.
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 on the eve of the tournament. They have now slipped to 40 per cent after their hard-fought 26-16 win over Argentina and messy 58-14 defeat of Namibia.
Only 28 per cent of all pundits this week bet on the All Blacks to win the tournament with 31 per cent backing Australia. That has lifted the Wallabies to be now joint-second favourites, with 13 per cent of all bets placed now on Michael Cheika's side.
The Wallabies have won both of their games so far at the tournament - a 28-13 win over Fiji and 65-3 defeat of Uruguay - and can all but knock hosts England out of the tournament with victory at Twickenham on Sunday morning (NZT).
England are still joint favourites, despite their 28-25 defeat to Wales last weekend, but only five per cent of bets were placed on the host nation to win the tournament. Wales also took five per cent of the money to remain on three per cent overall, with most pundits probably recognising they are battling a dreadful injury toll.
Ireland remained on 12 per cent, South Africa are on 10 per cent and France on nine per cent.
Where the bets went this week (total number of bets):
Australia: 31 per cent
NZ: 28
France: 11
South Africa: 10
Ireland: 10England: 5
Wales: 5
