Rugby World Cup – Tonga profile: Full squad, head coach, key player, prediction and odds

A closer look at Toutai Kefu’s team ahead of Japan 2019

Tonga are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2015 Rugby World Cup with a better tournament in Japan.

It will not be simple, however. With three tier one nations also in the group, along with a more-than-handy USA team, Toutai Kefu’s side are not sure to even match their one win from four years ago, though Kefu has spoken of his intent to make the quarter-finals.

In what was their finest World Cup hour, Tonga beat France at the 2011 edition – and with the French far from a defined entity and spotty in terms of performances, their meeting on 6 October may represent Tonga’s best chance of securing two wins.

The Pacific Islanders will bring perhaps the meatiest squad to Japan, with a veritable phalanx of thumping carriers in the pack including Benneton’s Nasi Manu, who has overcome testicular cancer and will battle with Leicester’s ultra-solid Sione Kalamafoni for the number eight berth.

Telusa Veainu has missed huge swathes of Tonga’s action over the last few years but returns and will provide some of the fastest feet in the tournament from full-back, while Siale Piatau will lead from the centres.

Squad

Forwards: Siegfried ‘Fisiihoi, Vunipola Fifita, Latu ‘Talakai, Paula ‘Ngauamo, Sosefo ‘Sakalia, Siua Maile, Siua ‘Halanukonuka, Ma’afu Fia, Ben Tameifuna, Sam Lousi, Leva Fifita, Sitiveni Mafi, Sione Kalamafoni, Maama ‘Vaipulu, Fotu ‘Lokotui, Zane ‘Kapeli, Dan Faleafa, Nasi Manu.

Backs: Sonatane Takulua, Leon ‘Fukofuka, Samisoni Fisilau, Kurt Morath, James ‘Faiva, Siale Piutau, Malietoa Hingano, Nafi Tuitavake, Atieli Pakalani, David Halaifonua, Viliami Lolohea, Cooper Vuna, Telusa Veainu.

Head Coach

Toutai Kefu. Sixty times an Australian international, Kefu won the World Cup with the Wallabies in 1999. He has been head coach of his native Tonga since 2016 and done well to manage a squad that has been plagued by unavailability and inconsistency. He secured Tonga’s first win against Fiji since 2011 last year. “We’re in a tough pool, there’s no doubt about it,” Kefu has said ahead of the tournament. “We just need to get together and believe in what we’re doing and believe that we can make it. And I certainly think we can.”

Key Player

Sonatane Takulua will control affairs from scrum-half for Tonga (Reuters)

Sonatane Takulua. The Newcastle Falcons scrum-half has dual importance to this Tongan side. With a fair amount of uncertainty at fly-half, Takulua may have chief playmaking duties, bringing Tonga’s beefy band of big ball-carriers into the game around the fringes and picking and choosing his moments to spin the ball wider to Telusa Veainu and co.

He will also handle tee-related affairs – he’s a fine kicker and if Tonga can keep themselves close then Takulua has the temperament and quality to knock over the points required to take advantage.

Past Record

Australia/New Zealand 1987 – eliminated in the pool stages (zero wins)
South Africa 1995 – eliminated in the pool stages (one win)
Wales 1999 – eliminated in the pool stages (one win)
Australia 2003 – eliminated in the pool stages (zero wins)
France 2007 – eliminated in the pool stages (two wins)
New Zealand 2011 – eliminated in the pool stages (two wins)
England 2015 – eliminated in the pool stages (one win)

Prediction

Tonga will beat the United States, and come very close to beating one of Argentina and France, but will ultimately come away from the World Cup with just one win.

Fixtures

• Sunday 22 September – England vs Tonga (11.15am), Sapporo
• Saturday 28 September – Argentina vs Tonga (5.45am), Higashiosaka
• Sunday 6 October – France vs Tonga (8.45am), Kumamoto
• Sunday 13 October – USA vs Tonga (6.45am), Higashiosaka

Odds

Tonga to win the World Cup: 1000/1