Tonga and Romania bring down the curtain on their Rugby World Cup Pool B campaign when they clash in Lille on Sunday
Tonga v Romania, Sunday 8th October, Lille, KO 17:45 (South African time)
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Weather Forecast – Lille
Tonga:
Tonga were given just over 40 points start on the main handicap line for last week's clash with South Africa and that proved to be more than enough in a game they lost 49-18.
Tonga have now lost all 3 their matches so far and they have failed to earn a log point. In earlier results they were beaten 45-17 by Scotland, a game which Tonga had started as 24.5 point underdogs. Tonga's first action came against Ireland and they crashed to a 59-16 defeat and that loss was greater than the main handicap line of 36.5 points.
Romania:
Romania have also lost all 3 of their matches without earning a log point and the margin of their defeats has been extremely heavy and their points difference is -234 compared to Tonga's -102.
Romania went down 84-0 to Scotland last weekend (handicap 60.5 points) whilst a round earlier they failed to register a point against the Boks who ran out 76-0 winners (handicap 63,5 points). Romania began with an 82-8 defeat to Ireland (handicap 62.5 points) and they have looked completely out of their depth.
Team News
Tonga: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 George Moala, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 10 William Havili, 9 Sonatane Takulua (captain), 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Sione Talitui, 6 Semisi Paea, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.
Replacements: 16 Sione Anga’aelangi, 17 Paula Latu, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Penitoa Finau, 21 Manusiu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.
Romania: 15 Marius Simionescu, 14 Nicholas Onutu, 13 Tevita Manumua, 12 Fonovai Tangimana, 11 Taliauli Sikuea, 10 Alin Conache, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Andre Gorin, 7 Cristi Boboc, 6 Vlad Neculau, 5 Marius Iftimiciuc, 4 Adrian Motoc, 3 Alexandru Gordas, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru (captain), 1 Alexandru Savin
Substitutes: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Costel Burtila, 19 Florian Rosu, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Alexandru Bucur, 23 Mihai Graure
The Betting
Tonga -37.5 points at 9/10
Romania +37.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
I priced this handicap at -42.5 and it opened -35.5 but has settled at -37.5. It seems a big handicap given Tonga’s best result was a 28 point loss to Scotland but Romania have not lost by less than 74 points and even in warm up games lost to the likes of Georgia and Italy by 50.
If Tonga can reproduce anything like the form and fight they showed against the Springboks they should win this by 40+.
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any additional bets and other punters share their plays
BET: 4 units Tonga -37.5 at 1/1 at Betxchange (Using the Boost , 5k max, can’t use in multiples)
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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