Wilko blow to punter

Having placed a bet which could produce the biggest payout of the Rugby World Cup tournament, a William Hill client who staked £2000 on an England v France Final in the hope of a £250,000 payout, was devastated to hear that fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is out injured.

The punter, from Bath, placed his biggest bet ever and first on rugby, at odds of 125/1 before the news of Wilkinson's injury that keeps hijm out of the tournament opener against the USA.

"The punter will be desperate for the injury-prone No 10 to miss only the USA game," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe. Hills have cut the odds about an England v France Final to 66/1 after taking the bet.

William Hill are predicting that for the first time ever the Rugby World Cup will produce a £50m betting turnover. "The last World Cup was the first to exceed £10m betting turnover in total for British bookies, but this year's tournament offers far more punter-friendly kick-off times, the pre-tournament turnover has taken off, and provided that the home nations stick around until the latter stages all previous records will be left far behind," said Sharpe.

Despite the bad news about Wilkinson, which has seen his odds of being the World Cup's top points scorer lengthen from 16/1 to 25/1 and his replacement Ollie Barkley introduced to the betting at 33/1, England remain by far the best backed side in the tournament with Hills who make them 25/1 to retain the trophy and also offer: 1/2 New Zealand; 11/2 S Africa; 6/1 France; 10/1 Australia; 20/1 Ireland; 25/1 England; 66/1 Argentina; Wales; 250/1 Italy; Scotland.

Tournament Top Point Scorer: 11/10 D Carter, 3/1 P Montgomery, 5/1 S Mortlock, 12/1 F Michalak, 16/1 D Skrela, 25/1 R O'Gara, 25/1 Nick Evans, 25/1 Jonny Wilkinson; 33/1 O Barkley; J Hook

England Top Tryscorer: 2/1 J Robinson, 9/2 P Sackey, 9/2 M Cueto, 9/2 J Lewsey, 12/1 D Hipkiss, 16/1 J Noon, 16/1 A Farrell, 25/1 S Perry, 25/1 N Easter, 33/1 M Catt, 33/1 J Wilkinson

(Editor's Note: Have England's chances disappeared now Wilkinson is injured? For the latest rugby World Cup prices go to William Hill!)