RWC - The A Games with Shaggy (Canada vs Tonga)

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The A games with Shaggy – Canada V Tonga

After an interesting first round of pool A games, Tonga moves stadiums to New Zealand's northern most venue of Whangarei, to take on Canada, who will be playing their first match of the tournament. This game is vital for both teams chances of attaining a top three finish in pool play, and automatically qualifying for the next RWC in 2015.Both teams have named strong line-ups, with Canada probably fielding their strongest team possible. Their strength lies in their backs, with an experienced and steady halves-combination in Ed Fairhurst and Ander Munro, a world class centre in DTH van der Merwe, and a fast and exciting back three, in James Prichard, Ciarn Hearn, and Phil Mackenzie. Canada's weakness in the back line is at inside centre, where they have struggled to find a player to complete what is required to the necessary standard, and I'd expect that Tonga will run at this channel all day, giving Ryan Smith a lot of work to do defensively.

Canada also possess some abrasive forwards in the form of locks Jamie Cudmore and Jebb Sinclair and number 8 Aaron Carpenter. Openside flanker Chaucey O'toole is also a player to watch in open play, and blindside flanker Adam Kleeburger completes a pretty potent loose forward trio. Their weakness in the forwards recently has been in the line-outs, and their scrum will also be sorely tested by the big Tongan front rowers.

Tonga have retained a number of players from the loss against the All Blacks,and the fatigue effect of playing these two matches so closely together, could prove a significant factor in this match. Goalkicking ace Kurt Morath moves from the number 10 jersey to full back,exciting winger Viliame Iongi takes a spot on the bench for Fetu Vainikolo and Thomas Palu. Siale Piutau and Alipate Fatafehi make up the centre combination, and I would expect a lot of the early attacks to come from these two. Once again, Tonga has named a strong forward pack, with Kisi Pulu, Ephraim Taukafa, and Alisona Taumalolo, set to provide a torid test for the canadian front row, and keeping the likes of Soane Tong'uiha on the bench.

Tonga should continue to play the strong, hard-contact, type of game that revolves around the forwards running the ball, before releasing their exciting and very physical back line.Both sides will need to maintain their discipline, as both sides boast very accurate goal kickers, that can goal from a fair way out if asked to do so. I'm really looking forward to this match, as it's result is by no means a forgone conclusion. Tonga should have the home ground support, and probably should be the more confrontational of the two sides, but Canada also an be physical and boast a good set of backs, plus come into this match fresh, andwithout the fatigue factor.

I'm probably in the minority, but im predicting a narrow win to Canada

Blog By Shaggy