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- Will Jordan (+750) is favored to be the top try-scorer at the 2023 Rugby World Cup
- Damian Penaud (+800) and Mark Telea (+900) are amongst the other top contenders
- The 20-nation tournament will take place in France from September 8 to October 28
With the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup in France set to begin, today we’re looking at the odds to be the tournament’s top try-scorer. A pair of New Zealanders, Julian Savea and Jonah Lomu, and South Africa’s Bryan Habana share the all-time record with eight tries in one World Cup. Will that record be broken this year?
Before we look at the board and make our bets, here’s where you can check out the top Rugby Betting Sites in 2023.
Rugby World Cup – Top Tryscorer
 |  |  |
|
| Will Jordan | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Damian Penaud | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Mark Telea | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Caleb Clarke | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Cheslin Kolbe | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| James Lowe | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Leicester Fainga'anuku | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Max Malins | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Duhan Van der Merwe | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Ethan Dumortier | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Louis Rees-Zammit | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Dan Sheehan | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Emoni Narawa | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Kurt-Lee Arendse | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Makazole Mapimpi | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Marika Koroibete | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Antoine Dupont | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Gabin Villiere | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Louis Bielle-Biarrey | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Mack Hansen | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Mark Nawaqanitawase | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Darcy Graham | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 |
| Josh Adams | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 |
| Rieko Ioane | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 |
| Anthony Watson | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Codie Taylor | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Suliasi Vunivalu | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Canan Moodie | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Jiuta Wainiqolo | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Mateo Carreras | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
Jordan favored over Penaud
New Zealand and France will open the 2023 Rugby World Cup against one another on Friday, Sept. 8. As they’re two of the favorites to win the event, it’s no surprise to see Will Jordan (+750) and Damian Penaud (+800) favored to be the top try-scorer. After all, players on winning teams will score more tries, and those clubs will advance further along in the tournament, allowing their players to score even more tries.
Two mores Kiwis, Mark Telea and Caleb Clarke, are next on the board at +900 and +1400, respectively. Then there’s South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe (+1600), Ireland’s James Lowe (+1600) and England’s Max Malins (+1800).
Will Jordan could end up going down as one of the most intelligent players to ever play.
High IQ rugby.#NZLvRSApic.twitter.com/5SCdw40vgT
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) July 15, 2023
Which Kiwi to wager on?
New Zealand should rack up points in Pool A against Italy, Uruguay and Namibia. Speedster Will Jordan (+750) has a try-per-game strike rate of 22 tries in 22 appearances. While the 25-year-old started with the All Blacks back in 2020, Mark Telea (+900) made his debut in 2022, scoring two tries in three games. He’s lit it up in club competition in 2023, tying Doug Howlett’s Blues record for tries in a season with 12.
In comparison, fellow Kiwi Caleb Clarke (+1400) scored seven tries in 13 matches with the Blues this year. Clarke only has four tries in 15 international games, but he notched three of those four tries near the end of 2022.
What about Cheslin Kolbe?
Cheslin Kolbe (+1400) only had three tries in South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph. The Springboks have the fourth-best odds to win this year’s tournament (+550) and while sharing Pool B with Ireland is tough, they should rack up scores against Romania, Tonga and Uruguay.
With a 10.7 100-meter dash, Kolbe is one of the fastest rugby players of all time. He scored a try-and-a-conversion in his nation’s 35-20 loss to the All Blacks at the Rugby Championship.
😍 Cheslin Kolbe's footwork. #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/eJkm8zDrmi
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 19, 2023
Lowe is Ireland’s top scorer
James Lowe (+1600) has nine tries in 20 international games for Ireland. While that pace is nothing to write home about, the reigning Six Nations champions have the third-shortest odds to win the event at +500.
The Irish have never advanced beyond the quarter-final stage at the World Cup. But if they were to win the whole thing in 2023, Lowe would likely be among the top try-scorers.
Best Bet
Damian Penaud led the 2023 Six Nations with five tries, but while he’s France’s No. 1 offensive threat, his ratio of 0.62 tries-per-game (26 tries in 46 games) pales in comparison to the Kiwi stars.
We’ll go with the favorite Will Jordan (+750).
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
