Tonga's Rugby Team: A Formidable Force keithprowse.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from keithprowse.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tonga will face the Cook Islands after losing back to back tests against Samoa.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Ikale Tahi capped 17 new players during tests against the All Blacks and Samoa this month, with most of their European based stars unavailable because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Thirty players were in camp ahead of last weekend s second test against Samoa - a World Cup qualifier - in Hamilton, but injuries and unavailability have depleted their squad further, with just 27 players in the mix to play on Saturday afternoon.
Hooker Siua Maile, lock Harrison Mataele and number eight Nasi Manu picked up a knock during Saturday s 37-15 defeat in Kirikiriroa, joining Solomone Funaki and Zane Kapeli on the sidelines.
'Anyone know any Tongans?' Toutai Kefu ringing around NZ clubs in bid to field team for test match stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“Not from our side of the coin,” he said. “It’s a test match, they’re representing their country, and we expect the same passion we’d expect out of any international team.” In many ways what happens on Saturday night (the All Blacks have an average winning score of 70-7 against the Tongans) is irrelevant. This, and the following two weeks against a more capable Fiji outfit, are mere stepping stones for what Foster hopes will be a return to the mountaintop in 2021. The coach has set the No 1 world ranking as this team’s driving ambition, and after failing to win half of their tests in a user-friendly schedule last year, it has been made clear that significant improvement is a non-negotiable for this campaign.
Tonga last played the All Blacks in 2019.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 22-man squad includes 18 New Zealand-based players, two from Australia, and one each from France, Japan and Italy. Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu hoped to have as many as 28 players available to play against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday, but has had to recruit majority of the team from clubs and provinces around New Zealand because of Covid-19 and MIQ restrictions.
New faces include recent Super Rugby debutants Solomone Funaki (Highlanders), Viliami Taulani (Chiefs), Sam Moli (Tasman), Hawke s Bay s Solomone Funaki and Mateaki Kafatolu, and Japan based winger Hosea Saumaki.