Tonga captain Nili Latu has been passed fit to play in Friday’s winner-takes-all game against England in Parc des Princes, Paris on Friday, 28 September with Kick-off: 2000 BST. The two sides last met in the 1999 World Cup with England romping to a 101-10 victory, but it will not be like that on Friday.
There are three changes to the Tonga team that lost to South Africa. Flanker Hale T Pole returns on the blind-side, Viliami Vaki moves to lock from the back row and will pack down alongside Lisiate Fa’aoso making his first start in France. Vaki replaces Paino Hehea, who is out of the tournament with a shoulder injury.
Tonga Team V England
Backs: Lilo, Tu’ifua, Hufanga, Taione, Vaka, Hola, Tu’ipulotu.
Forwards: S Tonga’uiha, Lutui, Pulu, Vaki, Fa’aoso, HT Pole, Latu(C), Maka.
Replacements: Taukafa, Filise, Molitika, Afeaki, Havea, H Tonga’uiha, A Havili.