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Latu in doubt for Tonga decider

Doubtful starter: Nili Latu

Tongan captain Nili Latu is battling to be fit for his team's World Cup eliminator against England at Parc des Princes, Paris, on Friday.

Latu has been named to lead the side by head coach Quddus Fielea, but he has still to shake off a hamstring problem.

Fielea has made three changes, including one positional switch, up front following Tonga's narrow loss to Pool A winners South Africa in Lens last Saturday.

Flanker Hale T Pole returns from suspension to pack down alongside back row colleagues Latu and Toulouse number eight Finau Maka.

Viliami Vaki, who started in the number six shirt against South Africa, moves to lock instead of an injured Paino Hehea and will partner Lisiate Fa'aoso.

Victory for Tonga on Friday would send them into their first World Cup quarter-final, with reigning champions England making an early exit.

"We have already made a big achievement for Tonga to get this far and it is very important for the boys, this is going to be history in the making and I know they will be throwing everything into this game," Fielea said Wednesday.

For many of the Tongans it will be their fourth game in three weeks at the tournament, but their inspirational skipper, Latu, said the players were keen to back up for the big match with England.

"I guess, it's part of the job and our physio and team doctor have done a great job to help us recover and we know the last three weeks have been hard but our team is very buoyant and we're ready to go physically," Latu said.

"It's the biggest game in our history. It has to be because of where we are. We have a great chance of getting into the quarterfinals."

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Tevita Tu'ifua, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Epeli Taione, 11 Joseph Vaka, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Sione Tu'ipulotu, 8 Finau Maka, 7 Nili Latu (c), 6 Hale T Pole, 5 Lisiate Fa'aoso, 4 Viliami Vaki, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa, 17 Taufa'ao Filise, 18 Maama Molitika, 19 Inoke Afeaki, 20 Soane Havea, 21 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 22 Aisea Havili.

Date: Friday, 28 September
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
Kick-off: 21.00 (19.00 GMT; 20.00 BST)
Referee: Alain Rolland
Touch judges: Craig Joubert, Christophe Berdos
Television match official: Mark Lawrence
Assessor: Bob Francis