South Africa vs Tonga Betting Tips: Predictions as Springboks look to bounce back

After the game of the tournament so far went against them last weekend, South Africa will be itching to respond after the loss to Ireland. Tonga are the unfortunate team facing off with a vengeful Springbok side and expect the Rugby World Cup second favourites to show no mercy.

Handre Pollard returns after a massive 13 month lay-off for South Africa in what is a strong looking team and Billy Grimshaw is keen to back the South Africans to swat Tonga, who have improved in recent years, aside.

Nobody will be getting rich backing South Africa to win here at a best price of 1/80 but the task facing a Tonga team that have gotten a lot better since the international eligibility rule changes really does look insurmountable. The Boks arguably should've beaten world number 1 side Ireland last weekend looking at the blown chances and territory, and although there has been plenty of rotation they have such depth in the squad that the quality hardly drops off.

I am looking forward to seeing Makazole Mapimpi get a runout on the wing for South Africa with Cheslin Kolbe rested, as he is a joy to watch and is lightning quick. With Handre Pollard finally back as the fly half, I'd expect the Springboks attack to go up another notch. Their World Cup winner is one of the best number tens around and his guidance will be another string to the South African bow. Of course their main weapon is sheer size and although Tonga have some big boys of their own, they are not to the level of the mighty South African forward pack.

With wounds still smarting after last weekend's loss I expect a serious response from South Africa and with the pack still looking ferocious despite rotation I think they can cover the handicap. Tonga have notably tired in their games at this World Cup so far and that is a recipe for disaster against this opposition. Perhaps Tonga will stick in the game for a while but the floodgates should open sooner or later and when they do I think South Africa can snag enough points to cover this handicap play.

William Hill are top price at the time of writing for both South Africa to win by 51-55 (9/1) and 56-60 (14/1) and I will be having a split stakes punt on these two outcomes. As outlined in the previous paragraph, Tonga have markedly faded in their games so far in the World Cup and playing against the team in world rugby who exhaust opponents and strangle them into submission more than any other will be bad news for the Pacific Islanders.

South Africa are no strangers to racking up big scores, just ask Romania who they pumped 76-0 earlier in this World Cup. They scored more of their points in the second stanza there and I think that pattern will reoccur here, and would expect the Springboks to really rack up the tries as the conclusion of the game draws in. The favourite in this market is a winning margin in the 40s but getting the equivalent of a 4.5/1 or 7/1 winner by dutching the two margins in the 50s looks the way to go.

As explained earlier in the preview the return of Pollard will in my opinion really unlock more avenues to points for the Springboks so backing them to win by slightly more than the odds compilers are envisaging is how I will conclude the staking plan for this one.