Tonga vs Romania

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They were put on the back foot early in the competition as they were soundly defeated 59-16 by Ireland in the opening week of the competition, which was not helped by them being placed in the group of death either.

Unfortunately, the Pacific Islanders' situation did not improve much after that. In their following two matches, they were easily defeated by Scotland and South Africa, dropping both by scores of 45–17 and 49–18, respectively.

Ikale Tahi's results have been especially disappointing since despite bringing in former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, Malakai Fekitoa, and George Moala, they have never seemed to be good enough to pose a threat to tier-one teams.

Tonga will feel confident that they can end the 2023 RWC on a winning note because they have defeated Romania in two of their previous four games and have been demonstrably superior to The Oaks throughout this competition.

Romania was extremely unlucky to be placed in Pool B, which contained four very strong opponents, despite the fact that they initially appeared to be the worst team in the tournament with a -234 point differential.

The Oaks would have benefited from having this match earlier in the competition because a win might have boosted their confidence and their performance against the other three tier-one teams in the group.

Instead, they were matched up against Ireland first, who destroyed them 82-8, and then South Africa and Scotland, in which they failed to score a single point.

Romania's Pool B campaign is destined to come to an end without any points based on their tournament performances as they face a Tonga team who scored three tries last week against the Springboks.

Sonatane Takulua, the scrum-half with the most appearances for the team, is back in the lineup and will lead it against Romania, according to Toutai Kefu.

Tonga and Romania are set to conclude their 2023 Rugby World Cup journeys when they meet in the final Pool B match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq on Sunday.

In a group dominated by Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland, neither of these teams can advance to the knockout rounds. Nonetheless, they are eager to exit the competition on a high note by securing a victory in their last fixture.

Many observers would likely agree that Tonga's performance this year has been disappointing due to disruptions such as lockdowns and player club commitments, which have resulted in questionable team selections and a lack of cohesion.

Neither team has managed to secure a win at the 2023 World Cup, despite putting up determined efforts against Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa. Both sides are determined not to leave France without any pool points to show for their efforts. Romania's head coach, Eugen Apjok, has appointed hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru as the captain for the first time, even though this is his 34th international appearance. The team features nine changes from their previous loss to Scotland.

Romania's No.8, Cristi Chirica, who had been leading the team throughout RWC 2023, is not part of the matchday 23 this time, with Andre Gorin taking his place at the back of the pack. Meanwhile, former All Black George Moala is set to make his World Cup debut at the age of 32 in the starting Tongan XV, which has undergone six personnel changes and one positional shift.

A deadlock in Pool B nearly dashed any hopes for Tonga and Romania to advance to the knockout stages even before the World Cup officially commenced. Both teams are entering their last group match in Lille after suffering three consecutive defeats.

Tonga's performance has seen improvement as the tournament progressed, displaying competitive efforts against formidable teams like Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland. On the other hand, aside from an early try scored against Ireland, Romania's performance has been quite disappointing. Tonga is heavily favored to win at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for good reasons.

Considering this, it might be a good idea to explore player-specific betting options, and Ben Tameifuna presents significant value as a potential try scorer. The imposing prop forward has successfully crossed the try line in matches against both Scotland and South Africa, making him a promising choice to score against a sluggish Romanian defense.

Additionally, former Wallaby Adam Coleman will make his first start of RWC 2023, just one day after celebrating his 32nd birthday, marking the only change to the front five. Based on history, it appears that the two teams will be evenly matched in Lille, and the desire to end their campaigns with a victory will serve as strong motivation for both.

The Rugby World Cup is set to see the delayed debut of George Moala, who will replace Malakai Fekitoa, another former All Black. Adam Coleman will also make his RWC 2023 debut. The only two Tonga players to have played every minute of the World Cup are Pita Ahki and fullback Salesi Piutau.

Nine changes from their previous game are included in Eugen Apjok's lineup, with Ovidiu Cojocaru taking over as captain in place of Cristi Chirica, who was a matchday 23 player.Chirica is replaced in the pack by Andre Gorin, and if needed, Alexandre Bucur and Mihai Graure will make their World Cup debuts from the bench.

In the penultimate match of the pool phase, it's important not to underestimate its significance. Although Tonga and Romania, competing in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup 2023, haven't secured a win yet despite their determined efforts against Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa, both teams are eager to leave France with some pool points to their name.

Romania's head coach Eugen Apjok has appointed hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru, who is playing his 34th international match, as captain for the first time. The team has undergone nine changes since their previous match against Scotland. Cristi Chirica, the number eight who led Romania in the earlier stages of RWC 2023, is not included in the matchday 23, with Andre Gorin taking his place at the back.

Meanwhile, George Moala, a former All Black, is gearing up for his Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 32 in the starting Tongan XV. This lineup features six personnel changes and one positional switch. Alongside Moala, ex-Wallaby Adam Coleman is making his first start in RWC 2023, coincidentally the day after his 32nd birthday. This is the only alteration to the front-five.