Rugby League World Cup 2013 Scores: Predicting Results of Week's Early Matches

This year’s Rugby League World Cup couldn’t have hoped to begin with much more of a bang. Saturday’s opening encounters at the Millennium Stadium provided a great testament to the quality of the sport.

In the end, it wasn’t a great day for the competition’s co-hosts, however, as England fell victim to an unstoppable Australia comeback. Wales also left it until the second half to watch Italy glide past.

Teams can’t afford to linger on these results, though, and attention now turns to what’s to come.

Monday and Tuesday will see Ireland, Fiji, Tonga and Scotland all get their World Cup campaigns off the mark in a bid to see which minnows might pose a threat to the tournament’s usual suspects.

Ireland vs. Fiji

Date: Monday, October 28

Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET

Venue: Spotland Stadium, Rochdale

After seeing England and Australia entertain on Saturday, Fiji and Ireland will meet in Group A’s next encounter in what should prove to be the battle for third place.

Having said that, the Irish look like firm underdogs for their fight against the Pacific Islanders and will treat this match as a nothing-to-lose outing as they look to cause an upset.

Pat Richards stands head and shoulders above any other asset the Irish have amongst their ranks, and his influence from the boot should prove vital in Rochdale.

Scott Grix, Brett White and Rory Kostjasyn are some of the other stars bringing a mix of NRL and Super League talent to Mark Aston’s squad, which is far from a one-man show.

Whereas Ireland have lost 10 of their last 11 international fixtures, Fiji have triumphed in four of their 10 outings since the last World Cup.

Akuila Uate and Marika Koroibete are two NRL talents in the Fijian side who will prove particularly bothersome for Aston’s Irishmen. Each has an extremely good nose for the try line.

Prediction: Ireland 10-28 Fiji

Tonga vs. Scotland

Date: Tuesday, October 29

Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET

Venue: Derwent Park, Workington

Having never progressed from the group stage of a World Cup, Tonga and Scotland enter this year’s competition as undeniable minnows, but the former will have big hopes of breaking that trend.

The last time these sides met, Tonga demolished their Scottish counterparts 49-0, handing the Scots one of their five World Cup losses.

Scotland boast the talents of reigning Super League Man of Steel Danny Brough. The Scots will be relying on the Huddersfield Giant’s relationship with fellow half Peter Wallace to get them through a tough matchup.

Daniel Tupou, Konrad Hurrell and Jorge Taufua are three of the Fijian backs worth keeping an eye on, as all pose a significant threat to the Scottish defence.

Prediction: Tonga 34-8 Scotland