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| Sonny Bill Williams |
Steve Hansen’s men will be looking for a solid performance in their Rugby World Cup send-off. Nothing short of a big victory over Tonga will suffice with the Kiwis having endured an up and down 2019 thus far.
Photo Copyright Steve Haag – Hollywoodbets
New Zealand v Tonga
Saturday 7 September
FMG Stadium
04:35
To Win (80 Mins)
New Zealand 1/100
Draw 40/1
Tonga 20/1
Handicap
New Zealand
Tonga
*Handicap to be added on release
New Zealand
While the All Blacks aren’t exactly playing world-class opposition here, this game is still a crucial one for coach Steve Hansen who still needs to give a few of his key players some game time. Ryan Crotty is one such player with the centre having been out of action with a thumb injury since the end of the Super Rugby season.
There’s a lot of talk in New Zealand at the moment that Highlanders pivot, Josh Ioane, will be called up for the game as Richie Mo’unga is still struggling with a shoulder injury. It would be a smart move as the Tongans are hard-hitters and an injury to Beauden Barrett would leave Hansen with a fly-half injury crisis a fortnight out from the World Cup.
Tonga
The Tongans have endured a rather tough run-in to the World Cup losing to Samoa and Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup before beating a very poor Canadian side by only ten points in the final round of the tournament. They tasted defeat yet again last weekend as they went down 29-19 to a star-studded Fijian outfit.
This game could get very messy for the Tongans who have employed a territory-based game that has been rather easy to get around. Their tactical kicking just isn’t good enough to try and keep a team pinned in their own half and if they opt to continue in this vein against New Zealand then they will leave Waikato having had a cricket score put over them.
Verdict: New Zealand (-) *Handicap to be added on release
The return of Ryan Crotty will give the New Zealander’s far more dynamism in their midfield. I can see the hosts racking up a mammoth score here and clearing the handicap in the process.
