France are probably the best in the NH at the moment, but England have a great record against France, you play 3 games in Dunedin without moving (making it a home base technically) and it's a comparatively weaker group IMO, so you should have less injuries / tired players for the knockout stages. The bookies are not stupid and know this full well.. Also, you have Wilkinson! - the next entrant into the international and IRB hall of fame if he has another great tournament - no question.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/internationals/rugby-world-cup/winner

But not because that French poster says so - I'll take Ireland as the #6 team in the world (as the bookies reckon - who are knowledgable in Maths and rugby) ahead of some random French poster who doesn't know what he's talking about.

Anyway, everyone knows Tonga and NZ are gonna beat the French, and send'em home crying like little girls.