2003 Hero Wilkinson set to start first game
Published:Jonny Wilkinson is in line to start against Argentina according to Ladbrokes.
The bookies make the 2003 hero a 4/9 chance to start at 10 with Toby Flood (13/8) competing for the place. A similar battle appears be taking place for the fullback slot where Ben Foden (4/9) leads the way from Delon Armitage at 13/8. Mark Cueto is the 33/1 outsider.
Chris Ashton is the clear 5/2 favourite to be the top England try scorer from Mark Cueto at 6/1. Despite being a 6/1 chance to start the opening game Manu Tuilagi is prominent in the top tryscorer betting at 10/1.
England currently trade as the 14/1 fifth favourites behind France at 12/1.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “World Cup hero Wilkinson looks set to start the opening game with Youngs at 9. We’ve just about recovered from the damage done by Ashton at the Six Nations so aren’t taking any chances at the World Cup.”
He added: “England’s backers are still in hiding. We’ve seen money for France each way but it remains a huge cheer for the field against the favourites.”
Ladbrokes latest betting
To start against Argentina
C Ashton – 1/25
T Croft – 1/16
D Hartley – 1/10
N Easter – 1/10
C Lawes – 1/10
M Tindall – 1/8
B Youngs – 1/6
L Moody – 1/5
D Cole – 1/4
M Cueto – 1/4
T Palmer – 1/3
T Flood – 1/3
J Wilkinson – 4/9
B Foden – 4/9
S Hape – 4/6
A Sheridan – 5/6
M Banahan – Evens
A Corbisiero – 11/8
D Armitage – 13/8
L Deacon – 2/1
J Haskell – 5/2
M Stevens – 11/4
T Wood – 9/2
R Wigglesworth – 5/1
S Shaw – 5/1
M Tuilagi – 6/1
S Thompson – 7/1
D Wilson – 8/1
J Simpson – 16/1
L Mears – 16/1
Top England Tryscorer
C Ashton – 5/2
M Cueto – 6/1
M Banahan – 8/1
B Foden – 9/1
M Tuilagi – 10/1
D Armitage – 12/1
J Haskell – 20/1
B Youngs – 18/1
T Croft – 18/1
25/1 bar
To start at Full Back (No15) against Argentina
B Foden – 4/9
D Armitage – 13/8
M Cueto – 33/1
To start at Fly Half (No10) against Argentina
J Wilkinson – 4/9
T Flood – 13/8
To start at Scrum Half (No9) against Argentina
B Youngs – 1/6
R Wigglesworth – 5/1
J Simpson – 16/1
World Cup winner
New Zealand – 8/15
Australia – 4/1
South Africa – 9/1
France – 12/1
England – 14/1
Ireland – 33/1
Wales – 80/1
