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Tonga v Ireland Betting

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP – TONGA v IRELAND BETTING – 27th OCTOBER

Tonga qualified for the World Cup finals as winners of the Pacific Group. They beat the Cook Islands 56-14 in September 2006, but suffered a narrow 30-28 defeat by Fiji in the October. However, an 18-10 win over Samoa at Headingley, Leeds was sufficient to ensure qualification. Ireland qualified as winners of Europe Group 2. Comprehensive defeats of Russia, both home and away, along with 2 draws with Lebanon, saw Ireland qualify by virtue of a better points differential. Tonga seem likely to start favourites for their opening Group C encounter at Parramatta Stadium, in New South Wales.

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TEAM NEWS / KEY PLAYERS

Tonga
Twelve Super League-based players from the Pacific Islands have been called up for their respective World Cup squads. Tonga have included Wakefield hooker Tevita Leo-Latu, Hull second-row Willie Manu and Castleford skipper Awen Guttenbeil, who needs to prove his eligibility before his call-up can be confirmed. Parramatta’s Fuifui Moimoi and the Wests Tigers’ Taniela Tuiaki were selected in Tonga’s 24-man squad for the tournament but the Rugby League International Federation deemed that the duo cannot take part after electing to play for New Zealand last year.

Under RLIF rules, players who are eligible to play for more than one country can make one application to switch their allegiance in any two-year period. The news came as a major blow for Tonga, who had already lost Anthony Tupou to Australia following reclassification and they are now assessing their options, but seem likely to challenge the ruling. However, the RLIF executive cleared Melbourne prop / second row Antonio Kaufusi to play for Tonga.

Ireland
Ireland coach, Andy Kelly, formerly in charge of Super League sides Wakefield, Featherstone and Dewsbury, believes his side can advance to the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup. Kelly has taken time off from his kitchen business to mentor the Irish national side. His squad is formed mainly from lesser Super League players, but also includes four players from Ireland’s domestic six-team Carnegie League. One such representative is Carlow Crusaders prop Wayne Kerr, who took up league three years ago to keep fit as a rugby union player during the summer months. However, the Irish “Wolfhounds” have been hit by the withdrawals of Melbourne prop Brett White and Wests Tigers winger Shannon McDonnell. Kelly said, on the team’s arrival in Sydney, “Ambition allows us to dream of being World Cup winners, but realistically if we get over Tonga and Samoa we could look at a semi-final berth.”

The format of the tournament would require Ireland, who reached the quarter-finals in 2000, to overcome the winners of Group B in order to gain a semi-final place. He pointed out that while Tonga and Samoa are massively physical sides, he hopes the right game plan and the enthusiasm of the Irish team will enable them to progress beyond the group phase. He added that his side would beat neither team by running straight at them and expected his side to play entertaining rugby, while showing the true Irish spirit. The 13-man game is still in its infancy in the Emerald Isle, but the national squad now includes four players from the domestic league, which should increase the interest and support of Irish fans.