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World Cup Daily - September 29 Preview
The tournament has now reached double figures, with day ten creeping up from nowhere. Just the one game today, as the historic Devon city of Exeter welcomes Tonga and Namibia to Sandy Park. Total sport previews the day ahead, where the South western Africans meet the Polynesian islanders...
Today at the World Cup
Both sides have played one game so far this tournament, and come away with nothing. In the week of giant killing which saw Japan triumph over South Africa, Tonga were also left red faced, beaten by minnows Georgia.
The two sides have only met on one previous occasion, with Tonga emerging as victors in a close fought clash ending 20-14.
Entering Sandy Park today, Tonga stand as the thirteenth best team in world rugby, according to the current rankings, while Namibia are twentieth. As Georgia showed in putting the Tongans to the sword however, world rankings don’t count for everything.
Who to watch
With all eyes on Tonga who are expected to take the wing, explosive wing Fetu’u Vanikolo will need to be on top of his game. Having scored 10 tries for Exeter Chiefs in the previous season, Vanikolo got a headline catching move to French Oyonnax, and will be keen to show why a host of European clubs were monitoring his progress.
In the Namibian camp, Jacques Burger remains as the undoubted number one big shot. The Saracens flanker stands head and shoulders above his colleagues, in physical height in some cases but technical ability in all. In their opening game against the might of New Zealand, Namibia’s 58-14 defeat felt like a mental victory, as they dug in and pushed the world champions to perform; talisman Burger immense and influential throughout.
When To Watch
Tonga v Namibia – kick off at 4.45pm, live on ITV 4.
World Cup Meal
Tonga meets Namibia, this should be an interesting culinary infusion. For starter we’re opting for Lú. Chopped meat is prepared with coconut milk and wrapped in taro leaves which are then wrapped in banana leaves and put in an umu (a traditional underground oven) to cook. There are many varieties of Lú including Lú pulu (beef), Lú sipi (lamb), Lú moa (chicken) and Lú ho’osi (horse meat).
For main, Curry neck of mutton potjie. Another strange one, a mix of South-west African infusions and quite the Namibian delicacy. The dish consists of a stew type meal cooked in a large three legged pot over coals. It is often cooked as port of a social gathering in much the same way as BBQs are – perfect for a rugby World Cup showdown, right?
And dessert, Faikakai Malimali. It sounds much more complicated than it is, and simply comprising small puffy dumplings in coconut caramel, know as lolo. Lolo is nothing more than caramelized sugar to which coconut milk is added instead of cream or butter in the traditional caramel recipe. A sweet end to what is hopefully a spicy game of World Cup rugby.
Predictions
Both teams need to bounce back and get points on the board and Tonga are certainly still sore following their somewhat surprising defeat to Georgia.
As for Nambia, this will perhaps be their best chance to date of earning a first tournament victory, in what is a tough pool C.
Namibia coach Phil Davies has made eight changes to the side that valiantly went down to the All Blacks last Thursday, looking to shake things up and secure a win.
Sandy Park may be in for a treat if neither side holds back. The form of Jacques Burger will be pivotal, but we’re going for a narrow Tongan victory. For those fancying a flutter on the clash, here’s what PaddyPower are offering.
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