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Tonga: What you need to know about Boks’ Pool B opponents
Tonga have been bolstered by several players who previously turned out for Australia and New Zealand.
Vaea Fifita of Tonga is a player the Boks will have to keep an eye on. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images
The Springboks will have to make sure they do not underestimate Tonga when they face off on Sunday evening (9pm) in their last Rugby World Cup pool stage match at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Although the Boks are odds-on favourites to win the match, it won’t be a walk in the park for them. The game is of utter importance for Jacques Nienaber and his charges as they need a convincing bonus point win to stand a chance of making it out of Pool B.
The defending world champions know that their destiny is in their own hands, but Tonga won’t make it easy for them.
Rugby is life
Tonga have a proud rugby history, and it is reflected on the field when the players step on it. The sport binds their nation as it helps to distract people from the socio-economic ills that their country is faced with. Rugby is life for Tonga.
“In Tonga, it’s like this: number one is our faith, family, rugby, and then comes food. That’s what we play for: our country. We are just against the world really. Some of us don’t even get paid,” said Tonga fullback Telusa Veainu when speaking at a press conference during the 2019 World Cup, about the sacrifices the players make to take part in a global event such as the World Cup.
The Pacific islanders are regulars at the global spectacle; they have eight World Cup appearances under their belt, but unfortunately they have never made it past the pool stages like their neighbours Fiji and Samoa.
Stronger
Their best moment in the World Cup came in 2011. They managed to claim the scalp of France, beating them 19-14 in the tournament in New Zealand. Another highlight for them came at the 2007 edition when they came close to defeating the Springboks, but they eventually lost 30-25.
Tonga are in a new era in their rugby under coach Toutai Kefu.
This World Cup is a perfect platform for them to build on and thanks to World Rugby’s changes in the eligibility laws, Tonga have been able to call om several players who previously turned out for Australia and New Zealand. They managed to bolster their squad with stars such as Salesi Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Augustine Pulu, Vaea Fifita and Adam Coleman.
These additions have proved to be worthy at the World Cup. Even though they lost against Scotland and Ireland, they managed to put up a fight and make the games a contest.
As the Boks need four tries for a bonus point win to book their quarter-finals spot, they can expect Tonga to be difficult customers. Tonga have proved to be a physical side and have bite in attack, and should the Boks be caught napping, they will be punished.
