The 2023 Netball World Cup gets going in Cape Town on Friday and Netball fans have 60 matches to look forward over just 8 days. We take a look at the Tournament from a betting angle.
FORMAT
In the World Cup, 16 teams are participating. The tournament begins with 4 pools, each consisting of 4 teams. Every team plays against the other teams in their pool once.
After the initial stage, the top 3 teams from each pool move on to Stage 2, where they form 2 new pools. In this stage, each team carries forward the results from their matches against the other 2 teams in their original pool. Additionally, they play 3 more matches.
Following Stage 2, the top 2 teams from each of the new pools proceed to the semi-finals. The remaining teams will play in positional matches to determine their final standings.
POOLS
Pool A
Australia, Tonga, Zimbabwe and Fiji – Click here to bet on Pool A winner
Australia are massive favourites to win their pool at 1/1000. The other 3 teams will be fighting it out for the remaining two places in the next round of Group action.
Pool B
England, Malawi, Scotland and Barbados - Click here to bet on Pool B winner
This is another one-sided pool with England the 1/500 favourites while Malawi are firm second favourites at 14/1 and the Scotland v Barbados match will likely decided which of these teams joins England and Malawi in the next round of Group matches.
Pool C
Jamaica, South Africa, Wales and Sri Lanka – Click here to bet on Pool C winner
Jamaica the current Commonwealth Games Silver medallists are 1/8 favourites to win this Group despite having hosts South Africa with them. South Africa are priced at 5/1 and Wales should join the pair in the next round with Sri Lanka most likely left to contest 13th to 16th place.
Pool D
New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad & Tobago and Singapore – Click here to bet on Pool D winner
The Silver Ferns are the defending Champions and they are 1/1000 to win the Group. Uganda are 2nd favourites at 16/1 and Trinidad & Tobago are expected to join them in the next round while Singapore are 300/1 underdogs in the group and have it all to do.
To Win Outright- Click here to bet
Australia 9/10
Jamaica 33/10
New Zealand 4/1
England 5/1
South Africa 66/1
125/1 and better the balance
Australia have being building nicely towards this World Cup and have being sweeping all before them of late and are certainly benefitting from hosting Super Netball which brings many of the top players from around the World together.
It will probably come as a surprise to non-netball followers that Jamaica are 2nd in the betting and they have a number of players playing in the Super Netball League and certainly have some of the best players in the Tournament. As mentioned above they claimed Silver in last year’s Commonwealth Games.
The Silver Ferns of New Zealand are the defending Champions and they have left no stone unturned in the build up to this World Cup. They have strengthened their defence since last year’s Commonwealth Games, but will need Nweke to handle the pressure when it comes to putting the ball in the net.
England haven't always performed on the bigger stage, but they certainly have a team to go all the way here. In Eleanor Cardwell they have a shooter in excellent form and someone well capable of being one of the players of the Tournament.
South Africa will be captained by Bongiwe Msomi and how she handles the pressure of the home crowd will have a strong bearing on how far South Africa can progress. South African sporting teams have a habit of performing when playing at home and if they can give a good account of themselves against Jamaica in the pool stages that price of 66/1 will certainly shorten.
PREDICTION
I really like the look of this Jamaican team and I think they can get the win although I expect some cliff hangers especially in the semi-finals and final.
Suggested Bet: Jamaica win at 33/10
There is also betting on all of the matches with the Day 1 action priced up. All of the games look pretty one-sided but that is why it is great to have a handicap so in the New Zealand v Trinidad & Tobago match for example, New Zealand are -50.5 hoops favourites and you have got a Total Points (or hoops) Line of 110.5 so there are nice options for punters to get involved even though we have a massive favourite.
A team I will be following in the early rounds is Uganda who have really impressed with some of their results over the last two years.
Click here for all betting on the Netball World Cup
All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
