NZ v Tonga - Prediction time

First topic message reminder :

Not sure if a thread already exists (if so, then please merge!!) so I thought I'd get us underway as oh my giddy gosh I am excited about this little shindig in the proper home of Rugby.

What am I expecting in the first up match? Fire. Brimstone. Tries. Hits. Mayhem. I see a fired up Tongan side coming out, riding on the crest of a very vocal pocket of support in the crowd. I expect it to be close for 20 mins but after this, the AB's will settle into a groove and pull away - slightly. I expect 3 converted tries and a couple of penalties. Not all bad for Tonga though, I can see a couple of penalties and a try shortly before halftime. 27-11 HT to NZ.

Tonga will again come out fired up and this time it will result in early points (converted try). However, the AB's will once again find their groove and run in another 4 tries to run out convincing winners. Tonga will inject more physicality in the last 20, with some monstorous hits going in, but this will fatigue them in the end, which leads to my prediction of 4 NZ tries

Final Score NZ 55 - Tonga 18

Now it's your call

Sonny Wool the psychic NZ sheep predicts an AB win. Likewise Richie McCow.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup/meet-the-animal-oracles-of-the-rugby-world-cup-20110909-1k116.html

PJHolybloke wrote:NZ 54 - 9 Tonga.

Got to go to work now but have everything on my Sky + ready for a few beers this evening.

I have to be brutally honest - I'm so excited I think a bit of wee just came out.

too much information my friend.

Linebreaker wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:NZ 54 - 9 Tonga.

Got to go to work now but have everything on my Sky + ready for a few beers this evening.

I have to be brutally honest - I'm so excited I think a bit of wee just came out.

Save some for tomorrow PJ!

12 minutes to "Live: RWC Centre".... think I need a bit of a wee now too.

I love this feckin game.

It's on!!!

The vibe and the colour... EP filling up. Weather looks fine... party atmosphere outside the ground.

I love this game!

It's show time!

No sign yet of a "live text" page on BBC sport. I wonder if they are doing one in this climate of cutbacks. Anyone here able to watch and do one so those of us away from a TV can follow it?

Ha - as soon as I posted that, a live text feed appeared! Bet we could still do it better though

Good on ya pj. Wee all ya want! scene is set.
Bring on tonga and the other 47 matches.
Good luck all!

Nice Opening Ceremony, Taylor... Good Luck too and enjoy the tournament mate!

Yep.
You too linebreaker.
Ground looks great.
Hard to beleive its all happening.
Havnt felt this good for ages!
Fantastic!

TheGreyGhost wrote:43-10

Refereeing performance will be interesting. Given recent history, especially if a TMO is called on.

I saw Maka's comments which seemed at odds with professionalism, all this "we don't look at who's playing, or what they might do, we're just focusing on ourselves." (to be clear, I'm paraphrasing there because he talked for about 30 minutes) surely this is bluster and they will have done analysis and taken into account team selection. If not, they could be in for a long day at the office.

I'd be looking for NZ to build a good lead and then shut the game down. I think it's important to get the game plan right from the start and not get too loose, even if it means leaving some points out there.

jubblies to that missed conversion.

Interesting observation on the BBC ....why wasn't the opener a competitive game....NZ v FR for example. Only half the games in the RWC can have a bearing on the result, the rest are filler and more than half the teams are just making up the numbers