World Cup: Tonga vs Scotland (Group C)

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TONGA vs SCOTLAND
Tuesday October 29 KO: 8:00pm
DERWENT PARK - WORKINGTON

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Tonga vs Scotland
Live on 7mate
Wednesday, October 30 - 7AM AEDT (6AM Queensland time)

AFTER downing Samoa in a one-off Test earlier this year, Tonga go into this match brimming with confidence and as the red hot favourite.

With 17 players of NRL experience, the Tongan team is arguably the best team outside the tournament’s big three, and Scotland will have a battle on their hands.

Brent Kite will lead a Tongan side filled with attacking potential, with the likes of imposing Manly winger Jorge Taufua and Warriors man-mountain Konrad Hurrell capable of piling on the points.

The Bravehearts trump the Mate Ma’a in the halves, with Panthers recruit Peter Wallace pairing up with the Super League’s ‘Man of Steel’ Danny Brough.
This is a make-or-break game for Scotland and they will need to pull off an unlikely upset to keep their quarter final chances alive.

Scotland were soundly beaten by the Kumuls 38–20 in a warm up match and will need to improve if they are to match it with the Tongans.

OFFICIAL SQUADS

Tonga: Glen Fisiiahi, Daniel Tupou, Jorge Taufua, Konrad Hurrell, Sosaia Feki, Samisoni Langi, Daniel Foster, Brent Kite, Siliva Havili, Fuifui Moimoi, Sika Manu, Jason Taumalolo, Willie Manu, Nafe Seluini, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Ukuma Ta’ai, Mickey Paea, Siosaia Vave, Siuatonga Likiliki

Scotland: Danny Addy (Bradford Bulls) Danny Brough (C) (Huddersfield Giants) Brett Carter (Workington Town) Luke Douglas (Gold Coast Titans) Dale Ferguson (Huddersfield Giants) Ben Fisher (London Broncos) Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers) Ian Henderson (Catalans Dragons) Alex Hurst (London Broncos) Ben Kavanagh (Widnes Vikings) Kane Linnett (North Queensland Cowboys) Brett Phillips (Workington Town) Matthew Russell (Gold Coast Titans) David Scott (Featherstone Rovers) Mitchell Stringer (Sheffield Eagles) Alex Szostak (Sheffield Eagles) Adam Walker (Hull KR) Peter Wallace (Brisbane Broncos) Oliver Wilkes (Wakefield Trinity)

Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/oth...#ixzz2izb999X9

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Douglas set for World Cup debut

iSelect Titans forward Luke Douglas will make his World Cup debut when Scotland meet Tonga in the early hours of Wednesday morning AEST.

Douglas will lead the Scottish pack against a physical Tongan side, which includes the likes of Brent Kite, Fui Fui Moi Moi and Konrad Hurrell.

NRL.com has put together a full preview of the intra-group clash below.

Tonga v Scotland
Derwent Park, Workington

The battle for Group C kicks off with a powerful Tongan side facing one of the competition's long-shots. Tonga thrashed Scotland 49-0 at the 2008 World Cup and they look even stronger this time around with 17 NRL players in their ranks.

They thumped Samoa 36-4 in April and are the favourites to win Group C and take the one and only quarter-final spot on offer.

Scotland meanwhile are the group's underdogs, considering the quality of Tonga and the form of fellow Group C side Italy. The Scots have 10 Super League players in their squad and four NRL players – Peter Wallace, Luke Douglas, Kane Linnett and Matt Russell – but struggled in their warm-up match against Papua New Guinea last week on the way to a 38-20 defeat.

But while they can't match Tonga's power they do have stronger playmakers, which gives them a genuine chance of an upset here.

Watch Out Scotland: Outside the 'big three' of Australia, New Zealand and England, the Tongans probably have the most talented team at this World Cup. They've got genuine grunt up front with skipper Brent Kite, barnstorming Eels veteran Fuifui Moimoi, Cowboys cannonball Jason Taumalolo, Penrith's Sika Manu and St Helens forward Willie Manu. Then there's the raw power of outside backs Jorge Taufua, Konrad Hurrell and premiership-winning Rooster Daniel Tupou, plus the guile of Warriors young gun Glen Fisiiahi at fullback. The Scots' defence is going to be tested all over the park.

Watch Out Tonga: Scotland have the edge in one area, and it's an important one: the halves. Panthers-bound ex-Brisbane Bronco Peter Wallace is a seasoned campaigner and has played four State of Origin games. Alongside him is the current Super League League 'Man of Steel' Danny Brough, who was controversially left out of England's World Cup squad after leading Huddersfield to the top of the Super League ladder. They appear to have a clear advantage over likely Tongan halves pairing Samisoni Langi and Daniel Foster, and if they can control the game and create chances for their outside men the Tongans could be surprised.

Key Match-Up: Brent Kite v Luke Douglas. With Tonga boasting the better outside backs and Scotland possessing the stronger 6 and 7, the battle of the forwards could go a long way to deciding which backline gets the chance to shine in this game. Two leaders of the packs will face off in the front row: Kite, a veteran with more than a decade in the game and 14 Kangaroos appearances with to his name; and Douglas, the hardest worker of a star-studded Gold Coast Titans pack who is now a star himself in this Scotland side. If Douglas can lead by example and inspire Scotland's pack the underdogs could narrow the gap with their more talented rivals.

The Way We See It: Brough and Wallace give Scotland a real chance in this one, but it's hard to look past a team with the talent of Tonga – especially considering recent results. Form is not on Scotland's side and they'll struggle to match the confidence of Tonga, who should win this one by 10 points.


Source: http://www.nrl.com

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This match was epic. I was cheering for Scotland. Complete with two Titans in Russell and Douglas. Scotland get out to a surprise lead. Tongs come back hard in the second half. Throw everything at the Scots. Who hold them out time and time again. Tonga snatch the lead. Scotland actually get it back. Fantastic tries and near tries from both sides. Tongas lack of organisation killed them scotland failed to truly capitalise on their advantages in the kicking department.

We had goals bouncing off posts. A last minute sinbin that went a whisper from giving Tonga the game.

Amazing crowd. Biggest at the venue since 94 Roo tour! So proud of the Bravehearts. What a World Cup!!

After the game I promptly purchased a brand new Scotland jersey!

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If you haven't seen this game. Do yourself a favour and watch it. Edge of your seat stuff!