Tonga Can Impress At The Rugby World Cup | Thebigtip

Tonga will this autumn be taking part in their fifth Rugby World Cup – which certainly suggests a certain amount of experience that could prove invaluable as the tournament unfolds.

The fact that they have been included in the same group as hosts New Zealand – against whom they were thrashed 91-7 at the 2003 World Cup in Australia – as well as Canada and France will not be considered a blessing. The rugby World Cup betting odds indicate they could be in for a tough time.

However, the presence of Japan in Pool A might just be viewed by the Tongans as a welcome one, as the two sides have certainly had their fair share of run-ins over the years.

Including their meeting at this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the two sides have clashed on twelve occasions since 1990 with Japan winning seven matches and Tonga winning five. However, the close-fought nature of their most recent game – a narrow 27-28 defeat for the "Sea Eagles" – will certainly give them every hope of taking something from their Pool A encounter on September 21st.

In their World Cup history, Tonga have never qualified from their first round group and have only won four games at this level – but the signs are certainly indicating that they are getting closer.

The 2007 World Cup in France was the stage for their most successful campaign to date, and included victories over Samoa and the United States, but – as so often happens in sport – their most glorious moments came in defeat. Against England – who went on to make the final of the tournament – Tonga lost 20-36, and against reigning world champions South Africa they lost by an even smaller margin, 30-25.

Indeed the Betfair Rugby odds suggest that Tonga may push a couple of these top sides to the limit.

The signs therefore look good for Tonga, and when you take into account their tremendous recent efforts in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup – where they finished second behind Japan on points difference – there appears no reason why they can't go one step further than ever before and qualify for the quarter finals at the expense of either the hosts or the French.

Certainly with the likes of classy backs Andrew Ma'ilei and Vunga Lilo in their line-up who both play for Bordeaux and inspirational captain Samiu Vahafolou, Tonga won't go down without a fight.