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Tonga has announced its strongest squad for its Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) opener against Manu Samoa, which will be played in Apia on Friday afternoon.Led by heavyweight prop Ben Tameifuna and including five Moana Pacifica players, the Tonga team showed their determination to give it a tough fight in what is expected to be a tight battle.
Despite being missing several big-name players due to being unavailable or being overlooked by the new coaching staff, Tonga are determined to start their campaign on a high note. The squad also includes new signing Patrick Pellegrini of Moana Pacifica, as well as experienced players such as the Inis brothers, Lotu and Finn, prop Tau Kolomatangi, and forwards Manu Paea and Aisia Haro.
Head coach Tevita Tuifua and assistant coach Nili Latu will have to pick the right players from the pool of available players as many of the players in the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad are either under contract with clubs or have opted out. Tuifua acknowledged the challenges ahead, especially with Samoa playing at home during rugby’s centenary celebrations.
“It’s not an easy game,” Tuifoa said. “They are playing at home and with the support of the local fans, they will definitely attack us hard. But we will focus on the game and try to play the way we want to play.”
This match is of great significance to both teams as they will be vying for a spot in the expanded PNC Finals which now includes Asian teams, with Japan, Canada and the United States among the participating teams. Samoa had just lost to Fiji 42-16 and were desperate for a win to keep their hopes alive.
The two teams have a long-standing rivalry, with Samoa winning six of the last eight meetings. The Test will kick off at 5pm Tonga time.
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