Rugby World Cup: Tonga v Namibia preview

Tonga captain Nili Latu will miss the World Cup Pool C match against Namibia in Exeter on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury in one of nine changes to the starting line-up.

No 8 Viliami Ma'afu and centre Siale Piutau will co-captain the team in his absence.

Tonga, who lost their opening game 17-10 to Georgia, have recalled 37-year-old hooker Aleki Lutui, who is playing in his third World Cup.

Lutui and loosehead prop Soane Tonga'uiha become the seventh and eighth Tonga players to play in a national-record third World Cup. Full-back Vungakoto Lilo was the sixth, when he played against Georgia.

Even with nine changes, Tonga will field their most experienced side in a World Cup match, with 327 caps, and their oldest, at an average of 30 years, 200 days.

Fly-half Kurt Morath said: "With the tournament being so short, we just had to flush the Georgia defeat away and start again really and move on to Namibia.

"Namibia are forward-orientated and they've got some big boys in there. We will have to really be on our game up front. The tier-two nations now are catching up. The level is improving with professionalism. Everyone's getting better, so it's not surprising that the gap's closing up a bit."

Namibia will be seeking to notch their first World Cup victory at the 17th attempt after a battling performance against New Zealand in their opening game.

The African side lost 58-14 to the All Blacks and are confident they can overcome Tonga.

"Our aim is still to win one game. Realistically, that has to come in one of our next two matches," said captain Jacques Burger.

"Those are the games we have targeted, but you've seen how hard it is to win a game at the World Cup - and Georgia beating Tonga has not made it easier.

"We are going to take all positives away from the New Zealand game, but the next match we have to play to win and also the one after that.

"From now on we just have to push and push until we get that victory. We are positive, that's why we are at this World Cup."

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 David Halaifonua, 13 Siale Piutau (co-capt), 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Latiume Fosita, 9 Sonatane Takulua; 1 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 Sila Puafisi, 4 Hale T Pole, 5 Joseph Tuineau, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Jack Ram, 8 Viliami Ma'afu (co-capt).

Replacements: 16 Paula Ngauamo, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Tukulua Lokotui, 20 Opeti Fonua, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Kurt Morath, 23 Telusa Veainu.

Namibia: 15 Janco Venter, 14 Johan Tromp, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Russel Van Wyk, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9-Eneill Buitendag; 1 Casper Viviers, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld, 3 Johan Coetzee, 4 Janco Venter, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 6 Jacques Burger (capt), 7 Rohan Kitshoff, 8 Renaldo Bothma.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 AJ De Klerk, 19 Tinus Du Plessis, 20 PJ Van Lill, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Darryl De La Harpe, 23 David Philander.