Wales face Tonga for the first time in a decade on Friday evening, and have already stirred things up with coach Shaun Edwards calling for ‘referee protection’ for his team.
WALES vs TONGA
Friday, November 22, 19:30 GMT, Cardiff
Aside from the not-so-subtle dig at the Tongan discipline, Wales have opted to field a largely second string side, a move that will surely arouse the ire of the proud pacific islanders. Tonga have never beaten Wales, with their closest game being the last that they played, a 27-20 loss at the World Cup in Canberra. Their only previous trip to Cardiff was in 2001, when they were thrashed 51-7 in a match that also happened to be the test debut of second row Lua Lokotui, the only remaining player of either side still playing international rugby.
Only four players remain of the Welsh side that beat Argentina. Paul James and Ken Owens join Rhodri Jones in the front row, and Luke Charteris and Ian Evans will form the tallest second row in Welsh history. Andrew Coombs starts on the blindside, and Ryan Jones returns as captain to win his 75th test cap.
Lloyd Williams and James Hook are the new halfbacks, with Ashley Beck and Owen Williams filling the gap in the midfield. Teenage Dragons speedster Hallam Amos wins his first cap on the wing, with two more members of the almost-champion u20s, scrumhalf Rhodri Williams and utility back Jordan Williams, also in line to make their debuts from the bench. Loosehead prop Ryan Bevington and hooker Emyr Phillips are recalled to the bench after being part of the Japan tour in June.
Coach Mana Otai has made five changes to the side that lost to Tonga, two of them enforced. Eddie Aholelei replaces suspended Sona Taumalolo at loosehead prop, with Sila Puafisi starting at tighthead in place of benched Tevita Mailau. Vili Ma’afu is preferred to gargantuan Opeti Fonua at no8, and Latiume Fosita makes his run-on debut at flyhalf. Sione Piukala was meant to continue at inside centre but broke his forearm in training this week, so Bayonne’s Manu Ahota’e’iloa makes his first appearance of November.
Warren Gatland is taking a risk again by fielding a reserve side, but his faith was rewarded last week so it’s probably best not to doubt him again this time. Tonga will be hell bent on smashing the Welsh tacklers early but the loss of Piukala in the midfield will hurt, as will playing on five days rest after two very physical games the previous two weeks. Expect the islanders to be fired up early and maybe even take the lead at some point, but they will fade noticeably in the second half and Wales will come away with a 10 point win.
Referee: Mike Fraser (NZRU)
Assistants: Craig Joubert (SARU) & Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)
