Four changes for Tonga

Tonga coach Isitolo Maka has made four changes to his line-up for the crunch clash with France.

Skipper Maka returns for must-win game

Tonga head coach Isitolo Maka has made four changes to his line-up for the crunch clash with France in Wellington on Saturday. Flanker Finau Maka returns to skipper the side, with Kisi Pulu, Viliame Iongi and Andrew Ma'ilei also included in the line-up following 31-18 win over Japan. Alipate Fatafehi drops to the bench, while Fetu'u Vainikolo, Sione Vaiomo'unga and Taufa'ao Filise are omitted from the match-day 22. In the only other change among the replacements, Ephraim Taukafa comes in for Aloisio Ma'asi. Tong still have an outside chance of reaching the last eight, although they need to pick up all five points over Les Bleus, while denying France a bonus point of their own. "The boys have been training well," said head coach Maka. "Straight after the game against Japan we had two days of rest and then got back into pretty physical training, contact and rest on Sunday. "Everything has been going well. We're ready, as much as we can be." Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Viliame Iongi, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Andrew Ma'ilei, 11 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Finau Maka (captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa, 17 Alisona Taumalolo, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Joseph Tuineau, 20 Samiu Vahafolau, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Alipate Fatafehi