[shantystar]

United States Tonga
Tonga play their first match today against the Americans who played well against the English in their first up match but went down.

This is perhaps the strongest ever side to appear at a World Cup for Tonga,they have alot of experience in this side and they will want to start well here today and against an American side backing up 4 days after their opening match,i'll go against what most seem to think and i think the Tongans will start well today.Kiwis will recognise a fair few of the Tongan players with Latu as the Captain,Te Pole at lock with Lutui and Maka and various others from the lower league sides here in NZ and Europe,it looks to be a fairly handy side and the years of Tongan Rugby looking great one week and terrible the next could well come to an end today.Tonga only have two wins in their World Cup history beating the Ivory Coast 29-11 in 1995 and Italy 28-25 in 1999.

The Americans first up loss against England 28-10 was promising but I'm unsure what to make of that result,England were dreadful and they looked like a side trying to win on reputation rather than hard graft,but the Americans would be encouraged and why would'nt they be, a loss to the World Champions by 18 points is nothing to be sneered at no matter how England were playing,the result would have the Americans encouraged and eager to see where they can go to from here,but i'm not to sure how the Americans will cope with the physicalness that they will encounter against the Tongans.

Tongans are alot like us Maoris and Samoans,strongly built and not afraid of much,they love the big hit as we all do over here and are not afraid to do them,normally I would give the Americans the benefit of the doubt and I could be wrong in thinking this but the second half of the Eng/USA match was a very torid affair compared to the first half,the Americans were man handled a bit in that second half and I would geuss that the Tongans will attempt to hurt the Americans early to gain the upper hand,thats what i would do anyway.

These sides have faced each other twice with each side winning one a peice the Tongans beat the Americans 29-6 in 2000 while the Americans won their first ever match 30-10.

The short turn around for the Americans and the eagerness of the Tongans has me thinking that the Tongans could well win by a few here today or more than 10 anyway,they will know what is needed and they will know what to do to acheive it,the Tongans unlike the Samoans and Fiji don't have alot of sucess in International Rugby but they will view this opening match as a must win for them and I can see them getting it here,they are the fresher of the two sides and should play to their strengths,Tonga to win by 14,Good Luck.



Pick : Tonga - 9.0
Odds : 2.00
Stake : 8 / 10
Bookmaker : Stan James
Date : 2007-09-12