Tonga and Italy step up to the Plate
Having made their debuts into the Churchill Cup this year, Tonga and Italy A will now face each other in the Plate Final this Saturday at Sixways Stadium.
The pair will play the second game of the day following the Bowl final between USA and Russia at midday.
Tonga’s path to the final was cleared with an opening victory over the United States (44-13) thanks to wing Viliami Iongi’s tearing apart of the Eagles with four tries at Esher.
The Tongans’ biggest test followed with title holders and competition favourites England Saxons in their sights at Kingsholm where, despite an early flurry, the men in red succumbed to the force of the Saxons’ dominance up front (14-41).
For the Italians, a closely fought win over Russia (24-19) at Kingsholm ensured their place in the Plate final, although with the likes of Marco Bortolami and Mauro Bergamasco on show, the Azzurri will likely rue the missed opportunity having failed to make an impression against finalists Canada at Franklin’s Gardens (12-26).
The former of the two Italy players – who have over 180 caps between them – will captain the side at Sixways.
Teams:
Tonga: 15 Mateo Malupo, 14 Viliami Helu, 13 Suka Hufanga, 12 Tomasi Sili, 11 Viliami Iongi, 10 Eddie Paea, 9 Soane Havea, 8 Pasuka Mapakaitolo, 7 Pepa Koloamatangi, 6 Paula Kaho, 5 Emosi Kauhenga, 4 Josh Afu, 3 Kisi Pulu (captain), 2 Atonio Halangahu, 1 Ofa Fainga’anuku.
Replacements: 16 Semisi Telefoni, 17 Maleko Latu, 18 Pepa Koloamatangi, 19 Tevita Ula, 20 Daniel Morath, 21 Sione Fonua, 22 Kurt Morath.
Italy A: 15 Durandt Gerber, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Andrea Pratichetti, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Riccardo Bocchino, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Luca Petillo, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Josh Furno, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Tommaso d’Apice, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Giulio Toniolatti, 21 Ruggero Trevisan, 22 Nicola Belardo.
Date: Saturday, June 18
Venue: Sixways, Worcester
Kick-off: 14.15 (13.15 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts (England), Peter Huckle (England)
