Tonga and Romania will bring their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaigns to an end when they face off in the final Pool B match of the competition on Sunday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq.
With Ireland, South Africa and Scotland battling for the top two places in this group, both these sides cannot qualify for the knockout stages but will want to bow out of the competition with a victory in their final fixture.
Match preview
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Most would likely agree that Tonga have been dismal this year, as interruptions such as lockdowns and player club commitments have led to questionable team selections and, ultimately, a lack of cohesion.
They were not helped by being drawn into the group of death either and were set on the back foot early in the competition when they were comprehensively beaten 59-16 by Ireland in the opening week of the competition.
Unfortunately, it did not get much better for Pacific Islanders after that, as they were no match for Scotland and South Africa in the next two games, losing both by scorelines of 45-17 and 49-18 respectively.
What has made their performances particularly disappointing is that despite recruiting the likes of former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala, Ikale Tahi never looked as though they were anywhere close to being good enough to trouble the tier-one sides.
Tonga have won two of their last four games against Romania and have been clearly better than the Oaks in this tournament, which will give them confidence in ending their 2023 RWC on a winning note.
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While Romania may look like the worst team in the tournament at first glance with a -234 points difference, they were bitterly unlucky to be drawn into Pool B, which featured four very powerful opponents.
The Oaks could have done with this fixture coming earlier in the competition, as a good result would possibly have helped their belief and performances against the three tier-one teams in the group.
Instead, they were drawn against Ireland first up, who thumped them 82-8 and went on to be demolished by South Africa and Scotland in the next two matches, where they failed to score a single point.
Based on Romania's performances in the competition, their Pool B journey looks set to end without any points as they take on a Tonga side that managed to run in three tries against the Springboks last week.
Tonga Rugby World Cup form:
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Romania Rugby World Cup form:
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Romania form (all competitions):
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Team News
Toutai Kefu has revealed his lineup to face Romania, which features scrum-half Sonatane Takulua, the team's most-capped player, making a comeback and assuming the role of captain.
George Moala is poised to make a delayed debut in the Rugby World Cup, taking the place of another ex-All Black, Malakai Fekitoa, while Adam Coleman also secures his first start in the RWC 2023.
Pita Ahki and full-back Salesi Piutau are the only two players who have played every minute of the World Cup for Tonga.
Eugen Apjok's selection sees as many as nine changes from their last match, with Cristi Chirica dropping out of the matchday 23 and Ovidiu Cojocaru taking on the captaincy responsibilities.
Andre Gorin replaces Chirica in the pack, while Alexandre Bucur and Mihai Graure have been named on the bench and will make their World Cup debuts if called upon.
Tonga starting lineup: 15. Salesi Piutau, 14. Solomone Kata, 13. George Moala, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Afusipa Taumoepeau, 10. William Havili, 9. Sonatane Takulua (c), 8. Sione Vailanu, 7. Sione Talitui, 6. Semisi Paea, 5. Adam Coleman, 4. Halaleva Fifita, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 2. Paula Ngauamo, 1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
Replacements: 16. Sione Anga'aelangi, 17. Paula Latu, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Sitiveni Mafi, 20. Penitoa Finau, 21. Manusiu Paea, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Kyren Taumoefolau
Romania starting lineup: 15. Marius Simionescu, 14. Nicholas Onutu, 13. Tevita Manumua, 12. Fonovai Tangimana, 11. Taliauli Sikuea, 10. Alin Conache, 9. Florin Surugiu, 8. Andre Gorin, 7. Cristi Boboc, 6. Vlad Neculau, 5. Marius Iftimiciuc, 4. Adrian Motoc, 3. Alexandru Gordas, 2. Ovidiu Cojocaru (c), 1. Alexandru Savin
Replacements: 16. Robert Irimescu, 17. Iulian Hartig, 18. Costel Burtila, 19. Florian Rosu, 20. Damian Stratila, 21. Gabriel Rupanu, 22. Alexandru Bucur, 23. Mihai Graure
Head To Head
These sides have met four times in the past and have won two matches each. The most recent came back in 2021, when Romania won 32-20.
We say: Tonga 38-15 Romania
While the head-to-head record suggests this should be a close match, Tonga are a much better side than they were in their previous encounters against this opponent. The Oaks have struggled in this competition, and we feel they will suffer another sizeable defeat in this one.
No Data Analysis info
Devesh Jaganath
