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Brothers Maka size up All Blacks

Tonga captain Finau Maka doesn’t expect a sore Achilles to stop him from playing against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup on Friday, despite his coach and brother being more uncertain.

Tongan coach and sibling of the skipper, Isitolo Maka, revealed that Finau, who has hardly trained for the last two days as a precaution, was the team’s only injury concern when he announced his team on Wednesday.

Coach Maka didn’t sound 100 percent convinced on his brother’s fitness, saying he’d likely play “but we’ll finalise the team tomorrow.” However, Finau, sitting alongside him, added, “he’s thinking like that but I’m playing.”

Finau wants to see how his Achilles feels during the captain’s run on Thursday.

The Tongan boss has made four changes and two positional switches to the team which beat Fiji 32-20 in Lautoka in their last warmup match two weeks ago for the clash with the All Blacks.

Most of the changes are in the backline, where fullback Vunga Lilo has swapped places with wing Viliame Iongi, and Brive center Suka Hufanga, in his third World Cup, and Bordeaux-Begles’ Andrew Ma’ilei have been recalled to form an experienced midfield.

In explaining the backline changes, Isitolo Maka said they were seeking to match New Zealand’s speed “with the fastest guys we’ve got.”

“It’s not just about the contact area. I have faith in our backline. We will move the ball wide and show what we can do. It’s not about smashing each other and the opposition going into the contact zone,” he said.

The only changes in the forward pack see the return of Cardiff Blues tighthead prop Taufa’ao Filise and Lyon lock Paino Hehea.

More than half the side has played fewer than 10 tests. Nine players are in France, and the rest spread about New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Even so, their captain said that it feels like a home game.

“Most of the boys grew up here (in New Zealand) just like myself. Some of them also played for Auckland. It’s home away from home for us and it’s just another boost,” the big loose forward said. “There’s no pressure on us but pressure on them. We’ve just got to go out there and give it to them and see how they handle it.”

Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Viliame Iongi, 13 Suka Hufanga, 12 Andrew Ma’ilei, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Finau Maka (captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joe Tu’ineau, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga’uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa, 17 Alisona Taumalolo, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Samiu Vahafolau, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Alipate Fatafehi.

Date: Friday, September 9
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 20.30 (08.30 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland))
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

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