Preview - Tonga v Samoa
Who can finish second?
Tonga coach Adam Leach has named his side's for Ikale Tahi's final Pacific Five Nations game – Saturday's encounter with Samoa in Gosford, Australia.
Tonga, arguably the stand-out side of the competition, currently sit second in the standings and a win or a draw against the Samoans (sitting third) will cement that position.
Tonga limbered up for the Gosford fixture by hammering the Cook Islands 77-10 in Rarotonga on Saturday, the first leg of their Oceania World Cup qualifier.
Leach has made a few rotational changes to his XV for the clash with Samoa, giving the likes of Tevita Taumoepeau a start and handing last week's captain, Nili Latu, a spot on the bench.
Tonga: 15 Sione Mone Tu'ipoluto (Yokogawa, Japan), 14 Tevita Tu'ifua (Counties Manukau, NZ), 13 Hudson Tonga'uiha (Vaini, Tonga), 12 Tatafu Na'aniumotu (Nukunuku, Tonga), 11 Viliami Hakolo (Spartan Club, Tonga), 10 Pierre Hola (Kobe Steel, Japan), 9 Sioeli Nau (Metro Racing, France), 8 Lotu Filipine (IBM, Japan), 7 Viliami Vaki (Perpignan, France), 6 Epeli Taione (Sanyo, Japan – captain), 5 Maama Molitika (IBM, Japan), 4 Paino Hehea (Metro Racing, France), 3 Tevita Taumoepeau (Worcester, UK), 2 Maafu Pale (Coventry, UK), 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa (London Irish, UK).
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa (Leicester Tigers, UK), 17 Peni Fakalelu (Pau, France), 18 Chris Hala'ufia (NEC Harlequins, UK), 19 Nili Latu (Chiefs, NZ), 20 Soane Havea (Stourbridge, UK), 21 Fangatapu Apikotoa (Marist, Tonga), 22 Kaiongo Tupou (Kolofo'ou, Tonga).
Samoa: tba
Date: Saturday, July 1
Kick-off: 19:30 (07:30 GMT)
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, Australia
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessor: Dick Byres (Australia)
