NZ v Tonga - Prediction time

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

NZ 66 Tonga 10

NZ 48 Tonga 6

NZ 35 - 12 Tonga

Cant imagine it wont be anything except a huge NZ win.

A much more 'competitive' (though in all honesty sad) prediction will be on the number of players who get injured.

I think Tonga will win the Haka showdown

What's the weather like? If it's dry I'd imagine 52-12 or something similar.

Yahoo weather tells me in should be fine witha high of 16 and low of 8

RubyGuby wrote:NZ 48 Tonga 6

I hope so. I've got NZ by 42 for SportsGuru.

A reshuffled backline with the likes of Dagg and SBW keen to impress but it may well be disjointed initially. Rather than impress with the flashy stuff, the ones pushing for positions should concentrate on eliminating the error count and doing the basics right. SBW needs to run more at the line rather than looking to offload. Good first up game for NZ but there should be no problems with securing the win. I am more interested in the manner of the performance. People are keen to avenge the 3N results but that comes later in the tournament. Do the basics well and have patience and get the defence right.

50-6-

Tonga to score possibly one try. NZ to win by 40+

I want to see,is the basics executed well,secure a win without injuries.
THEN get the established Ateam out there and play some games together.
Save Read for quarters,not worth the risk of starting him to early.

Alan, I think he has to have a run before the Qtrs. He will need to prove his fitness (and regain some fitness) before the knockout stages. If he gets injured, he gets injured – I think that is something we have all learnt from 2007, if an injury is going to happen it will whether we like it or not.

New Zealand 27 Tonga 33

(Could you imagine).......

I think both teams will play it tight for the opener:

New Zealand 12 - Tonga 3.

Boyne wrote:New Zealand 27 Tonga 33

(Could you imagine).......

Meltdown

Prediction?

2 yellow cards
Lot's of errors and nerves on show
An injury scare ??
Comfortable NZ win 36 to 10

I don't think there's any question that NZ will win well, that's not really the issue, its whether they get through the game without any serious injuries to key players.

Tonga as we know hit harder than any and have some giants playing in the backs and forwards, if I were a NZ fan I would just be praying that none of the main cast pick up an injury to jeapordise the rest of their tournamount.

ruck40fun wrote:

Tonga as we know hit harder than any and have some giants playing in the backs and forwards, if I were a NZ fan I would just be praying that none of the main cast pick up an injury to jeapordise the rest of their tournamount.

To be fair SBW and Nonu aren't the smallist chaps around...I think NZ will do ok in the physicality department....

48 - 8.

15 - 5 at half time.

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.

Yeah playing with some structure would be great. Though it would be hard for NZ to keep it, as their game plan is based on supreme support play. In an open game where they're well ahead on the scoreboard, they'll keep making breaks and their support play will mean less tackles and breakdowns, so there will be a lot more broken play and less structure. So I really hope the Tongans are fit enough to keep tackling for the 80. Their propensity towards going for the big hit means that they are more susceptible to being caught out of position and missing tackles if they're not bang on. Of course if they are, well there are ambulances around. Go for Toeava please if you have to maim someone!

Canada will be good too for NZ as they are a physical side without being too adventurous. Those Canucks are hard and should hopefully be a good test of breaking down a team's defensive alignment.

@ half time: NZ 13 - 17 Tonga

@ full time NZ 37 - 17 Tonga

Im not sure why, I just see Tonga putting up a real fight for the first half but New Zealand completely outclassing them in the second.

Either way, I think we're all agreed on a decent win for NZ at least!

New Zealand to win on points, but Tonga to win on cheap shots

I think NZ will run in around 10 tries this match, 60 something to NZ. Less that 10 to Tonga. Big statement from NZ.


Then France to beat them in their pool match, England to knock them out in the quarter finals.

I just hope ,for the credibility of the WC that Tonga are competitive.Silly scorelines have blighted previous WC's.As the opener I hope the margin does not get above 30 points.

Taff, I hope you are right. But I fear a margin of 60+ is more in line with what will happen. And, unfortunately, there will be more outrageous scorlines to come in other matches.

Nz by 48. Larsen has said something special will happen.
Kirwans try 87 literally brought the tournament alive.
Im hoping the opening ceremony isnt the most spectacular thing tonight....
Geeeez. .. We....are.....finally. ....Here!!!

For those that might be interested, the 1999 Kings College first xv ( a South Auckland college) had two locks,12 years later they are marking each other tonight.

You've just reminded me!! Sportsguru picks! I always bleedin' forget!!

53 - 12 to NZ

NZ by 50+ points, painting an early ominous picture for every other team in it

doctor_grey wrote:Taff, I hope you are right. But I fear a margin of 60+ is more in line with what will happen. And, unfortunately, there will be more outrageous scorlines to come in other matches.

You may well be right.As long as these stuffings occur the harder it is to market our Game.Not a good spectator sport to have total mismatches.I am sure that this sort of stuff holds back Rugby's growth.Form a queue to get humiliated is a tough sales pitch.I wish Tonga well,especially as I have tipped them to win by 29 points following an administration error on Sportsguru!

The French coach has a point. He thinks Tonga may be slightly off key tonight as they target his team in the hope of qualifying.

With Canada and Japan very possible wins for Tonga- France may loom as their last 8 target. '3rd' tier teams these days have pro players out there and 'meeting the all blacks' isn't as awesome an occasion for these teams anymore- the practicalities of making last 8 is. Last 8 means pro careers for these boys so its more Business as usual.

Given that, and perhaps being overawed by the appearance on grand centre stage after the opening on Eden Park for some of the players, I'm going for a 60 point win. The best way for the AB's to avoid injury is to tire these big guys into submission quickly so they dont bother with the big hits as much and decide to aim for smaller fish instead.

We wont want a close game because the hits will keep coming.

AB's 60+

taylorman

Its going to be hard tireing these Tongans out,they get so many breaks,They are having a 90 minute add break after the Haka,before the whistle, and to top it off half times been extended to 12 minutes,for more commercials, its getting like superbowl.

Sorry, 90 second break after the Haka.... see i'm getting excited..

I know but if they havn't targeted this match they may not give 100% anyway.
And against the AB's 90% is a lot different than 100. I see makas quite confident his boys are fit so it might be a lower motivation level than gets them..

Can't wait myself too. Been waiting a loooooooong time for this...

ooooh! annoying little things arent they...

Taylorman
I jumped out of bed this morning, like a kid on christmas day,getting a new bike.

Tonga to play within themselves against AnervyB side. Tonga by 10.

37-15 to NZ. Tonga to be very determined/competitive until an ill timed yellow/red card allows NZ to pull away

I predict a riot

tonga got 60 to 66 points start with the bookies, looks a good bet to me

All Blacks 77 Tonga 5

Well good luck to both teams, hopefully tonga gives a good account of themselves.

The most impoortant thing today, is no serious injuries and the all Blacks must win by 56 points, because that is my sportsguru prediction.

Yeah, I got a little carried away with my '72' (before the teams were announced)... but I'm going to stick with it.

Just think the chosen ABs will be out to prove something and Tonga will be overwhelmed.

Well the only way my score can be a reality is if Tonga keep them honest for the first 20.

With mine, they'll need to have a good HT lead of around 30 points. Then I'm hoping they won't take the foot off the pedal. I think the NZ backline will be out to rack up some serious points in the second half if they are ahead by 30 at HT.

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.

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.

Save some for tomorrow PJ!

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