2023 Rugby World Cup Predictions

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Scotland vs Tonga Predictions - Tonga to get close on handicap

Ralph Staniforth

Editor

Last updated: 22 Sep 2023

Ralph Staniforth 22 Sep 2023

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Watch Scotland vs Tonga in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday (17:45 SAST)
Tonga suffered a defeat to Ireland last time out
Can the Scots get the bonus point win?

Expired

Tonga can get inside 25 points (Getty Images)

Scotland vs Tonga Preview

Scotland simply must win this encounter and they are clear favourites to do so. The bigger challenge will be securing the four-try bonus point.

Scotland vs Tonga Preview
Head to Head
Scotland Form
Scotland Injuries & Team News
Tonga Form
Tonga Injuries & Team News

I am backing Scotland to take the full house but think Tonga will lose by less than 25.

Scotland have won 6 of their last 10 matches.
Scotland have won 4 of their last 5 matches against Tonga.
Tonga lost 59-16 to Ireland last weekend.

Head to Head

Scotland have won four of their last five against Tonga. The only win Tonga got was in a huge upset back in 2012.

Scotland Form

Scotland head into their second game at the Rugby World Cup in must-win mode. They suffered an 18-3 defeat to South Africa in their World Cup opener.

Pool B is considered the pool of death with Ireland and South Africa also in the group. After losing to the Springboks, Scotland cannot afford another defeat. They will most likely have to take a bonus point from this game and their match against Romania.

Regardless of what happens between South Africa and Ireland, Scotland will then have to beat Ireland to have any chance of progressing. Coming into the World Cup, Scotland were in fine form, so it is certainly not beyond them.

Scotland Injuries & Team News

The Scots had a two-week break so they will field another full-strength side.

Tonga Form

Tonga had to wait a week to start their World Cup campaign which they did last weekend against Ireland. Coming into the World Cup Tonga were a team tipped to watch but they are in a very tough pool.

However, an upset is not completely beyond them and they will probably fancy Scotland as a potential victory. Last week Tonga lost 59-16 to Ireland.

While they were always on the back foot, Tonga managed to stay within touching distance of the Irish until the second half.

Tonga Injuries & Team News

Tonga will want a vast improvement from last week. With a week's break, they should be at full strength.

Verdict

Scotland v Tonga

Tonga are backed to lose by less than 25 points.

Tonga +25

Handicap

@1,91 - 5 Units

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Ralph Staniforth is a South African sports journalist, editor and betting writer who has worked in sports media since 2012.

With a background in Sports Science, he has covered a wide range of sports and interviewed leading players and coaches across South African rugby, cricket and football.

His sports betting work covers both South African and international markets, combining his knowledge of sport with extensive experience analysing fixtures, teams, form and betting markets.

Ralph specialises in football and rugby, while also covering cricket, tennis and golf. His work includes match previews, betting tips, betting guides and broader analysis of the sports betting industry.

You can find more from Ralph at Muckrack and LinkedIn.