Just a reminder. Tonga's team:

1. Glen Fisi’iahi

2. Daniel Tupou 3. Jorge Taufua 4. Konrad Hurrel 5. Sosaia Feki

6. Samisoni Langi 7. Daniel Foster

8. Brent Kite 9. Siliva Havili 10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Sika Manu 12. Jason Taumalolo
13. Willie Manu


Interchange: 14. Nafe Seluini 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Ukuma Ta’ai 17. Mickey Paea

18. Siosaia Vave 19. Suiatonga Likiliki


Only weakness is the inexperience of the halves. However, with such a powerful pack in front of them, and such a brilliant backline outside them, they are unlikely to be intimidated.

Expect Scotland to be humbled, even with Danny Brough and Peter Wallace and other good players in their team.

Tonga are the great under achievers of the international game, but if they find some passion and get stuck in they will be unstoppable.

Cracking side.

Can't wait for tonga v Italy at the shay should be a great game

This would be the first time they have had such a complete selection of top class players.

I suspect that the Shay will be too small for the potential crowd.

Why? It holds as many as Warrington.

I did not know that.

The problem I've witnessed with Tonga over the years has been their discipline. Can they keep it together this time? No idea, but wil be interesting to watch!

When England played them a few years ago at Widnes the Tonga players were a disgrace.

Certainly livened the game up but most of them were just looking for a fight.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fw-BWx_1oQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fw-BWx_1oQ

Never seen that before. Embarrassing by Tonga. Hope they're here just to play rugby this year.
I can understand a bit of biff if it is provoked, but (and I admit I haven't seen anything other than those 4 minutes) that looked, and sounded, purely that they just weren't happy to be losing.

I was at that game. Tonga's discipline was absolutely shocking.

That Tongan team in 2006 and the one in this WC is miles apart in class, this one has the potential to be truly devastating, Konrad Hurrell the one to look out for.

That's from a while ago tho' Jamie Rooney was at h/back.
Maybe they have improved some since then. We'll soon know.

The Tongan outside backs include two of the 2013 NRL Grand Finalists -- Daniel Tupou and Jorge Taifua. The full back Glen Fisi'iahi is one of the fastest men in the NRL. Plus centre Konrad Hurrell is a powerhouse in attack. The Tongans could run rings around a lot of more fancied teams and I expect them to be in the quarter finals.

The big criticism you can make of most PI sides, and Tonga in particular, is that they have a lot of players who are typical 'impact' players who play very hard for short minutes, but they don't have many players who can put in 80, or even 60, solid minutes.
The Tonga forward pack might be able to give the big 3 some real trouble for 60 minutes, but the last 20 would be open slather with the Tongan's out on their feet.

Really can't wait for Tonga v Cook Islands next week.

Cookies could spring an upset in that game.
They were the better side in the Pacific Cup a few years ago, although both sides have a lot more NRL and ESL players this time around.

I agree with you, though that is not true of all the forwards (e.g. Brent Kite, Jason Taumalolo ).

However the Tongan outside backs would not look out of place in a Kiwi jersey. After all, Fisi'iahi plays second fiddle to Locke at NZ Warriors, but has filled in admirably, often brilliantly. Daniel Tupou is a brilliantly performing permanent member of the Roosters starting lineup and on the verge of becoming a top flight international. Jorge Taufua was for muich of the 2013 season neck and neck with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the title of Dally M winger of the year. Konrad Hurrell is a very powerful attacking centre at NZ Warriors, and Seki is easily of NRL first grade standard.

Samoa have a nicer jersey.

Thinking exactly the same thing.

Man this Jean Capdouze really knows his stuff

And you've already got the Scots getting beat by the Italians.