Preview: Wales v Tonga
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales have had an impressive November test Series campaign thus far, and on Saturday Warren Gatland’s die will look to secure their third consecutive win over Tonga at the Principality Stadium.
The hosts secres a comfortable win over Scotland in the opening week of the November Tets Series, while last weekend they were tested but in the end proved too much for the Wallabies with a narrow 9-6 win.
Head coach Warren Gatland made 14 changes to his winning formula.
The side will be captained by Ellis Jenkins. The flank will captain Wales for the second time.
Jenkins will lead a side that includes uncapped fullback Jonah Holmes as well as British & Irish Lion Liam Williams who will win his 50th Wales cap.
“Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for a number of players,” said head coach Gatland. “It’s Jonah’s first game which is exciting and Liam reaches his 50th which is a great achievement.
“We are looking forward to the challenge of Tonga. They had a great win last weekend against the French Barbarians and we know it is going to be a tough, physical challenge,”
Meanwhile, Ospreys prop Ma’afu Fia will make his international debut for Tonga.
Fia was called up for the first time for the November internationals and played for the first time in a Tongan side in Bordeaux last week when they beat the French Barbarians 49-38 in an uncapped match.
Tongan coach Toutai Kefu has kept faith with the side that ran in six tries in that game and the experienced Castres Olympique lock Steve Mafi is the only change to the starting XV. He comes in for Sam Ulufonu, while there are six changes among the replacements.
Veteran fullback Vunga Lilo will win his first cap since the last pool game of the 2015 World Cup against New Zealand in Newcastle in 2015, while Bristol Bears centre Saile Piutau leads the team.
Newcastle Falcons scrumhalf Tane Takulua, who scored 24 points in Bordeaux, will be one of the men Wales will have to keep an eye on as they seek to make it three wins in a row this month and eight in succession overall. He is one of eight players who faced Wales in the last meeting in Auckland in 2017.
The other survivors are Piutau, hooker Ngauamo, lock Leva Fifita, flanker Dan Faleafa and replacements Latu Talakai, Latu Talakai and Leon Fukofuka.
Players to watch:
For Wales: Debutant Jonah Holmes will be eager to impress at fullback. British & Irish Lion Liam Williams, playing his 50th Wales cap, is always a lethal weapon.
For Tonga: Sitiveni Mafi is one to keep an eye on. Plying his trade at Castres the dynamic lock will be vital when it comes to set-pieces. Ma’afu Fia, who is very familiar with the Welsh conditions could also create all sort of headaches for Wales.
Head to head: It will be interesting to see how the battle unfold. Tonga’s scrums will be a crucial component especially with the likes of Ma’afu Fia, Paula Ngauamo, and Siegfried Fisi’ihoi going up against the Welsh trio Leon Brown, Elliot Dee, and Wyn Jones. In the backline, Dan Biggar’s ability to dictate a match will be a very huge challenge for Kurt Morath. However, the Tonga flyhalf is a classy player who can produce a noteworthy performance.
Recent results:
2017: Wales won 24-6, Auckland
2013: Wales won 17-7, Cardiff
2003: Wales won 27-20, Canberra
2001: Wales won 51-7, Cardiff
1997: Wales won 46-12, Swansea
1994: Wales won 18-9, Nuku A’lofa
1987: Wales won 29-16, Palmerston North
1986: Wales won 15-7, Nuku A’lofa
Prediction: Tonga might be very recilient but their brave efforts will count for nothing against Warren Gatland’s side. Wales will take comfortable by 20 points.
Teams:
Wales: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Seb Davies, 7 Ellis Jenkins (captain), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Josh Adams.
Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Viliami Lolohea, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Siale Piutau (captain), 11 Daniel Kilioni, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 Dan Faleafa, 5 Sitiveni Mafi, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Replacements: 16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 Latu Talakai, 18 Paea Fa’anunu, 19 Onehunga Havili, 20 Mike Faleafa, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Kali Hala, 23 Atieli Pakalani
Date: Saturday, November 17
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT; 03.30 Tonga time Sunday, November 18)
Expected Weather: Partly cloudy with the high of 11°C and a low of 4°C
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
