Scotland vs Tonga prediction and odds - Rugby World Cup 2023

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Amidst the war-zone that is Pool B, labelled the ‘group of death’, Scotland and Tonga will clash at the Allianz Riviera in a crucial matchup with huge repercussions for both sides.

While South Africa v Ireland on Saturday night may be the game which decides who tops the group, both Scotland and Tonga are dark-horses still hot in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals.

Scotland vs Tonga match predictions

Contents

1 Scotland vs Tonga match predictions
- 1.1 Scotland to win with a -24 point handicap @10/11 (1.90)
- 1.2 Duhan van der Merwe to score the first try @6/1 (7.0)
2 Tonga a genuine threat or chronic under-performers?

Both team have started their Rugby World Cup campaign with a loss, while one will escape this fixture with a victory and keep their tournament alive, a loss will prove fatal for their chances of progressing to the knockout-stage.

Scotland to win with a -24 point handicap @10/11 (1.90)

Tonga had a poor Pacific Nations Cup campaign this year, finishing bottom and they were dispatched comfortably, 59-16 by Ireland in their first match.

Conversely, Scotland are in great form, finishing 3rd in the Six Nations and pushing South Africa in their 18-3 loss in round one.

Scotland will breeze to a victory with just a few sore bodies to show for a bonus point victory and five pool-stage points.

Duhan van der Merwe to score the first try @6/1 (7.0)

One of the best wingers and the world and seemingly hitting his playing-peak, Duhan is a devastating runner and an unrivalled finisher who is in remarkable try-scoring form.

The winger scored three tries in five Six Nations games, including a double versus England and scored three tries in his three World Cup warm-ups. Duhan is odds-on to score first.

Tonga a genuine threat or chronic under-performers?

After their huge loss to Ireland, the question is whether Tonga can make their fixture versus Scotland a contest rather than if they will win.

Tonga

Tonga came into the tournament with a lot of hype after adding a large number of former All Blacks and a former Wallaby to their squad due to World Rugby changing their eligibility laws. However, Tonga are yet to perform to their new standards on the field.

This is most likely their last chance to show what they are capable else they destined to crash out of the tournament in underwhelming fashion.

Tonga last five:

Ireland 59-16 Tonga
Tonga 36-12 Canada
Tonga 28-3 Canada
Samoa 34-9 Tonga
Japan 21-16 Tonga

Scotland

Scotland entered the tournament with aspirations of making the knockout-stages but face a tough proposition in a group containing Ireland and South Africa. After their loss to the reigning world champions, Gregor Townsend’s men will have their eyes firmly set on the Ireland fixture but will be keen to assure the bonus point victory versus Tonga first. In Pool B, come the end of the group-stage, every point will count.