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Tonga declare war on the USA

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Betfair rugby expert Tony Calvin previews the battlefield that could be tonight's encounter between the USA and Tonga

LAST night's performance from Argentina showed how tough it is for an international rugby union side to play two matches in four days - this isn't non-contact football between 11-stone weaklings, we are talking here - and the USA could discover that harsh reality when playing Tonga this afternoon.

Because Tonga, as were Georgia last night, will be chomping at the bit to get stuck in to action in their opening match.

It is hard to argue with the USA's tenacious 28-10 defeat by England at the weekend, where they finished the stronger side. Indeed, they only conceded three tries and two of those were when they had a man in the bin.

England were clueless in that match, don't get me wrong, but the States were always going to deliver a committed and feisty performance up front, and they delivered in style.

The scrum wobbled but their line out competed well and their back row so outshone England's triumvirate that it cost Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley their places in the squad against South Africa.

The backline was almost livelier than expected (which wasn't saying much), but that had a lot to do with the outstanding performance of Paul Emerick in the centre and his loss for the rest of the tournament - he was banned for 5 weeks for a spear tackle on Ollie Barkley - robs them of much of their midfield organization and go-forward bosh.

Tonga have no shortage of the latter, that's for sure. Their 2007 performances have seen some shockers, and they lost 50-3 to Samoa in June, but I wouldn't read too much into that. An earlier 21-15 win in Fiji is a far better guide to their abilities.

The smaller nations see this tournament as their showcase and Tonga are deserved favourites at around 1.36 favourites for this match, and are 2.12 on Betfair's -10.5 line.

The -7 that is available elsewhere strikes as an excellent bet but Tonga have every chance of winning this by 11 and more, too.

In Epi Taione, they have a centre that can bust holes in any midfield defence and there is some explosive power and pace in their pack, too, So look for fireworks - and the odd high tackle no doubt - when the likes of captain and openside Nili Latu goes hunting with his back-row colleagues Finau Maka (he looks like one of Hair Bear Bunch, if he decides to let his locks flow for the match) and Hale T-Pole.

The Tonga coach reckons that this is the first time they have had all their best players available for the World Cup, and if they hit the ground running, the USA could feel the force.