2023 Rugby World Cup Top Points Scorer - Who will top the points scoring charts in France?

What is pretty safe to say is that it will be a goal kicker as it has been in all nine Rugby World Cup tournaments to date.

France fullback, Thomas Ramos is the favourite with bet365 at 3.25. It is hard to argue against his deadly accurate right boot, but Richie Mo’unga, Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and others will all have a fair shout.

Much obviously depends on the results and how far teams go in the competition. At the last World Cup in 2019, South Africa’s Handre Pollard topped the charts and won the Rugby World Cup, but the winning team does not always walk away with the prize.

So, let’s have a look at some of the top contenders according to Easybet.

Ramos is one of the most accurate goal kickers in world rugby at the moment - both at club and international level. During the 2023 Six Nations, Ramos scored 84 points which included 10 penalties, three tries and 18 conversions in the five matches he played - all of which he started.

While he is the favourite on home soil, much will depend on how deep the French go in the tournament. They should easily make it out of Pool A but then face a quarter-final against Ireland, South Africa or Scotland.

Should France indeed make the semi’s I reckon Ramos will be very close to being the top points scorer. And considering that France are among the top sides in the world, I wouldn’t bet against them at least reaching the final four.

Another factor to consider is how many of the Pool games he will start. Barring injury, Ramos will almost certainly start against the All Blacks and Italy - their two toughest games. 

But the points opportunities will come against the minnows of Namibia and Uruguay, or at least try-scoring opportunities. It is very unlikely he will start both of those matches, but other key goal-kickers will also be rested against minnows so the impact shouldn’t be too big.

All consideration, it is easy to see why the French fullback is the favourite, and I’d certainly fancy him topping the charts.

Mo’unga is another superb option for top points scorer. But much like Ramos, the New Zealand flyhalf has the same road to face. He is an 80% + goal kicker so accuracy isn’t an issue.

The Crusaders man has certainly nailed down the spot in the number 10 jumper over the last couple of seasons so that won’t be an issue barring injury. He will most likely start against France and Italy but may be rested against Namibia and Uruguay.

New Zealand also have other accomplished goal-kickers in Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett and Beauden Barrett. While Mo’unga is on the field however he will take the goal kicks, unless out of range, then Jordie Barrett should take over.

The All Blacks have however been rather inconsistent and recently, albeit in a “friendly”, got hammered by South Africa. They could easily face a quarter-final exit which is unlikely to be enough games for Mo’unga to get the top of the charts.

The South African mercurial number 10 is in his first full season of international rugby. Last World Cup top points scorer, Handre Pollard didn’t make the squad because of injury, so much of it rests Libbok as the only recognised flyhalf in the squad.

However, it is a major risk backing Libbok for a number of reasons. At club level with the Stormers he has been superb for the last two seasons, both in attack and goal kicking, topping the URC points scoring charts. But he has a history of fluffing crucial kicks and has struggled off the tee for the Springboks this season (bar against New Zealand at Twickenham).

There are more factors at play, however. While Libbok is the only recognised 10 in the squad, there has been talk recently of Handre Pollard being fit and a simple injury anywhere in the squad could see the first-choice 10 return.

The one thing that may play in Libbok’s favour is that because it is his first season, the coaching staff may want to give him as much time as possible, meaning he may feature in all the Pool matches, even from the bench. If that does happen, and he steers the Boks to glory at the Stade de France, he will certainly be very close.

In the 2022 season of the Rugby Championship Boffelli topped the points-scoring charts alongside Richie Mo’unga. He was simply superb off the tee, but Boffelli offers much more in a try-scoring threat as well.

The Argentine should start in enough pool games to really get some good momentum early, but again, much depends on how far Los Pumas progress.

They are in Pool D alongside England, Samoa, Japan and Chile. While Chile should be a game where Los Pumas can rest players, the others are all at the very least a banana skin.

Given England’s form though Argentina should be looking to progress with ease, if not top the pool. That will see them get Wales, Australia, or Fiji most likely in the quarters. In all games Argentina are more than capable of winning.

I’m not sure how to find any value in Owen Farrell. England are in dire form heading into the World Cup and Farrell will miss the opening game of the tournament through suspension. There is a real concern that England won’t make it out of the group, but then again, like in 2007, they do have quality and if something clicks, their run to the semis isn’t that tough.

Farrell is the captain of England and should come into the lineup once his suspension is over, but if England clicks without him, it may be a tough road back and a short tournament.

None of this is to question Farrell’s ability to score points, he is a master off the tee and offers enough attacking threat to score a few five-pointers. The biggest issue with him is England and the form they are currently in.

Ford will probably start for England in the opening match at flyhalf, and if all goes well, he may not be dropped once Farrell returns from suspension.

But the issue is the same as above, there are too many ifs and buts around England and having three flyhalves who are all pretty accurate. Ford will be a huge risk even at those odds.

Gordon is similar to Manie Libbok mentioned earlier. It is his first season as an international and while his goal-kicking at club level has been good, he has shown some big weaknesses off the tee for the Aussies, particularly in their final warm-up game against France.

Much like Libbok though, Gordon may start or feature in more pool games due to his inexperience which should give him the opportunity for more points against smaller nations. He is also the only recongised 10 in the squad.

The Wallabies have, however, lost their last five matches. They are fortunate that they have got a pool with Wales who are also completely out of form.

Fiji is however lurking and are ranked above both Australia and Wales so getting out of the group won’t be straightforward for the Aussies. However, if they do, they will face England, Argentina, Samoa or Japan. While all tough fixtures, they are all winnable and then a semi-final beckons.

Gordon for me certainly offers more value than the two English 10s above him.

This is a bit of a surprise for me. Ireland are ranked no.1 in the world and although they have a tough pool, they are fancied to get through it. Another tough quarter-final awaits but they have the quality to go through and even win the cup.

Sexton has not played in any warm-up games due to a suspension but is back for the first game of the World Cup. But it gets tricky predicting how many games he will feature in. I’d almost back him to start against Scotland and South Africa and may not even feature in the other two as they keep him in cotton wool.

If you believe Ireland will go on to reach the final or win the World Cup, Sexton offers massive value at 13.00 - even if he only plays two Pool games. Sexton is very good off the tee and quite capable of getting a couple of tries as well.

At this price Sexton may well just offer something worth risking.

It is strange to see the two Welsh legends, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny not featuring among the top points scorers. Both of them are certainly deadly off the tee, among the best in the world. And, fortunately, Wales have two kickers of such quality.

Halfpenny is priced at 26.00 and Biggar at 51.00. Biggar should start the key games one would imagine but Wales' form has been poor, so much of their price has to do with that. But if Wales get it right, get out of their pool against Australia and Fiji, they can beat England, Argentina, Samoa or Japan and a semi-final beckons.

I’d risk a small amount on either of those two, perhaps closer to the time when we’re sure who will start big games.

The last one is another surprise. Scotland’s superb Finn Russell is paying an almighty 34.00. Russell is a good goal kicker and brilliant on attack, perhaps one of the best going around.

But Scotland have a shocking draw with both Ireland and South Africa in their pool. That is hugely unfortunate given the magnificent rugby the Scots are playing, but they are more than capable of upsetting the odds and getting out of the pool. 

Scotland can beat anyone on their day, they are a world-class outfit and were they in a different pool, I’m pretty sure Russell would have odds of around 9.00.

After Sexton, we start entering the territory of some big ifs and buts. The likes of Marcus Smith, Cheslin Kolbe, Beauden Barrett, Damian Willemse, Melvyn Jaminet, Damian McKenzie etc. are only really going to feature if the main goalkickers are injured.