Ireland clash with Tonga in Rugby World Cup Pool B at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Saturday and the pre-match handicap suggests the Irish should chalk up another wide margin victory
Ireland v Tonga, Saturday 16th September, Nantes, KO 21:00 (South African time)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
Weather Forecast – Nantes
Ireland:
Ireland put Pool B minnows Romania away 82-8 in Bordeaux in their opening match. The pre-match handicap was set in the early 60's and despite conceding the first try Ireland eventually covered it with some daylight. Their try's came from Johnny Sexton (2), Bundee Aki (2), Tadhg Beirne (2), Peter O’Mahony (2), Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Rob Herring and Joe McCarthy, Sexton also landed 7 conversions in what was a record margin victory for the Irish in the RWC.
Earlier this year Ireland pulled off a Six Nations Grand Slam and they haven't lost a game since the opening match of a three game tour of New Zealand in July 2022 and they hit back to win that series 2-1.
After this Ireland will take on the Springboks and then Scotland and in the RWC outright betting Ireland are trading at around 4.85/1 to win the tournament with Betway. The same bookmaker prices the Irish at 5/4 to finish top of this pool with the Springboks favourites at 0.58/1.
Tonga:
Tonga were not in action last weekend. Their August warm up matches saw them beaten 34-9 away to Samoa and they won both legs of a double header with Canada, 28-3 and 36-12.
In RWC 2019 in Japan Tonga were drawn in a competitive pool. They lost 35-3 to England first up, then went down 28-12 to Argentina before they were edged out 23-21 by France. Their only win came against the USA (31-19).
As far as the RWC outright betting is concerned you Tonga are 525/1 long shots to win the tournament with Betway. They are 38/1 to qualify for the quarter finals and 25/1 to finish bottom of Pool B.
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Team News
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Robbie Henshaw
Tonga: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Solomone Kata, 10 William Havili, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Sione Talitui, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Halaleva Fifita, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Ben Tameifuna (c), 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Semisi Paea, 20 Solomone Funaki, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Sonatane Takul, 23 Fine Inisi
The Betting
23h50 15 September
Ireland -36.5 points at 9/10
Tonga +36.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Ireland have picked a strong-side for this game and I expect them to put Tonga to the sword but I am not confident in this handicap. The Tongan side look capable of scoring points and I think the bookmakers are giving them a bit less respect than they deserve. I'm going to back them to score more than 10 points
BET: 4 units Tonga over 10.5 points at 0.86/1 at Betway*
*If you don’t have a Betway account please use this link to open one and use the Promo code GFTG!
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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